Decentralized policymaking power in Japan had developed under the reign of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), yet in the1990s, institutional changes fundamentally altered Japan's political landscape. Tomohito Shinoda tracks these developments in the operation of and tensions between Japan's political parties and the public's behavior in elections, as well as in the government's ability to coordinate diverse policy preferences and respond to political crises. The selection of Junichiro Koizumi, an anti-mainstream politician, as prime minister in 2001 initiated a power shift to the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and ended LDP rule. Shinoda details these events and Prime Minister Koizumi's use of them to practice strong policymaking leadership. He also outlines the institutional initiatives introduced by the DPJ government and their impact on policymaking, illustrating the importance of balanced centralized institutions and bureaucratic support.
Shinoda
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List of Figures and TablesAcknowledgmentsA Note on ConventionsList of Abbreviations and Japanese TermsIntroduction1. Japanese Politics Under the LDP2. The Politics of Institutional Reform3. Institutional Changes and Koizumi's Leadership4. Electoral Changes and Their Impact5. Hatoyama's Antibureaucratic Stance6. Kan's Struggle in the Government and the DPJ7. Institutions and Political LeadershipAppendix 1Appendix 2NotesBibliographyIndex
Tomohito Shinoda is professor of international relations at the International University of Japan. His publications include Koizumi Diplomacy: Japan's Kantei Approach in Foreign and Defense Affairs and Leading Japan: The Role of the Prime Minister.