Factional politics in the liberal Democratic Party : explaining change and continuity in Japan's economic statecraft / Michael J. Gigante, Ming Wan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gigante, Michael J., author.

Wan, Ming, 1960- author.

Series:

Cambridge elements. Elements in Indo-Pacific security

Cambridge elements. Elements in Indo-Pacific security, 3033-4837

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Jiyū Minshutō.

Political parties--Japan.

Political parties.

Japan--Foreign relations.

Japan.

Japan--Foreign economic relations.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (73 pages) : illustrations.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2025.

Summary:

"What explains change and continuity in Japan's economic statecraft? This Element examines the interplay between factional dynamics in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Japan's foreign policy through two cases: Japan's unprecedented decision to impose severe sanctions on Russia following its 2022 Ukraine invasion, and its decades-long ASEAN strategy amid political uncertainty and great power competition. The authors find that factional balance or the outsized influence of a large faction facilitates abrupt political-economic shifts, sustained until a similar dynamic triggers correction. Unlike most systems, Japan's intra-party politics do not lead to full leadership turnover, enabling factions to influence policy while empowering non-leadership members to drive change. This dual role strengthens barriers to change, embedding political inertia. Using factional membership data from 1961 to 2024, they argue that factions are a more systematic unit of analysis than political entrepreneurs in understanding the relationship between Japan's domestic politics and foreign policy decisions"-- Cambridge University Press.

Contents:

Change and continuity in Japanese foreign policy

Factional politics in the LDP

Russia now a foe

Enduring friendship with Southeast Asia

Where is Japan headed?.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 61-73).

Online resource; title from PDF title page (Cambridge Core, viewed November 14, 2025).

Other Format:

Print version: Gigante, Michael J. Factional politics in the Liberal Democratic Party.

ISBN:

9781009608985

1009608983

9781009608954

1009608959

OCLC:

1513235487

Publisher Number:

CIPO000240352

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license