The Decline of Political Institutions: The End of LDP Rule and the Future of Japanese Politics

5 June 1995 19.00-21.00

Co-Hosts

International House PhD Kenkyukai
Contemporary Japan Group, Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo.

Speaker

Kenji HAYAO, Professor of Political Science, Boston College.

Japanese politics have long been dominated by fairly rigid structures at all levels: the long-term rule of the Liberal Democratic party (the LDP), the factions within the party, the personal political machines at the local level, not to mention the strength of the bureaucracy. Japanese politics, however, have also undergone considerable change. Recent events, such as the fall of LDP majority rule following the 1993 general election, suggest that many of these structures have become much weaker. This talk will first describe the main outline of politics under LDP rule, particularly the bases for these structures supporting LDP rule; then, it will provide an analysis of what has happened to these structures in the recent past and what this means for Japanese politics today.

Venue

International House Annex, Roppongi, Tokyo.

Language

English.

Contact

Andrew DeWit,
Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo. dewit[atx]iss.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Fax 03-3816-6864