Government and Politics in Japan

COURSE OUTLINE

• Meiji Restoration

Meaning, Constitution, Structure of Government,  

Parliamentary Politics and Role of Military in State 

Policy Making.

• Occupation Reforms    

Constitution, Land Reforms, Bureaucracy

• Political Parties and their Support base –  

Conservatives : LDP, 

Progressives : JSP and JCP

and Centrist Parties : Komeito and    

DSP - Factions, Koenkai and Unions.

• Government Structure

National

Prime Minister, Bureaucracy, 

Administrative Guidance, Administrative  Reforms.

Local     

Parliament, Committees, Election System

Central-local relations.

• Issues                  

Foreign and Defense policy, Question of Deploying 

SDF Overseas, Changing Regional and International  
Politics, Impact and Japanese Response.        

Social Welfare policy – Medical Care, Pension System.

Human Rights in Japan: Burakumin, Koreans, Foreign Residents, Women and Human Rights Policy.

• Nationalism and Internationalism in Japanese Politics.

• Coalition Governments

  In 1990s – Decline of LDP dominance, Political

  Realignment, Political Reforms, Contours of 
  Two-Party System.

Importance of Structural and Political Reforms.

Koizumi and Abe and Challenges of 21st Century. 
(courting China and India, dealing with Iraq and Terrorism)    

• Summary and Comments:  Performance and  Prospects for  Liberal Democracy in Japan.