Political reform in Japan : leadership looming large / Alisa Gaunder.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gaunder, Alisa, 1970-

Series:

Routledge contemporary Japan series ; 12.

Routledge contemporary Japan series ; 12

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Japan--Politics and government--1945-.

Japan.

Politics and government.

Political leadership--Japan.

Political leadership.

Political corruption--Japan.

Political corruption.

Physical Description:

xiii, 178 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 2007.

Summary:

Political Reform in Japan argues that the quality of political leadership is the crucial determinant of whether parties in positions of dominance, like the Liberal Democratic Party in Japan, pass or reject policies such as electoral system and campaign finance reforms that could harm the party's future electoral chances. By comparing successful reform drives led by Miki Takeo, Ozawa Ichiro and Koizumi Junichiro with unsuccessful reform efforts pursued by Kaifu Toshiki, Miyazawa Kiichi and Kono Yonhei, Alisia Gaunder forces a reconsideration of the structure versus agency debate in political science, and of the conventional wisdom on Japanese politics that consensus decision-making norms and factional power balancing produce little in the way of political leadership.

Contents:

1 The puzzle of political reform 1

2 Miki Takeo: an outsider stands firm inside the LDP 22

3 Kaifu Toshiki: Mr. Clean plays it safe 42

4 Miyazawa Kiichi: an anti-reformer caught in "reform fever" 65

5 Ozawa Ichiro: rebel with a cause 83

6 Junior politicians: ideas and action without access 106

7 Koizumi Junichiro: a new kind of leadership? 121

8 Conclusion: political leadership in Japan 135.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [147]-168) and index.

ISBN:

041541590X

9780415415903

0203964497

9780203964491

OCLC:

70921435