Description
Book SynopsisAfter holding power continuously from its inception in 1955 (with the exception of a ten-month hiatus in 19931994), Japan''s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost control of the national government decisively in September 2009. Despite its defeat, the LDP remains the most successful political party in a democracy in the postWorld War II period. In The Rise and Fall of Japan''s LDP, Ellis S. Krauss and Robert J. Pekkanen shed light on the puzzle of the LDP''s long dominance and abrupt defeat. Several questions about institutional change in party politics are at the core of their investigation: What incentives do different electoral systems provide? How do politicians adapt to new incentives? How much does structure determine behavior, and how much opportunity does structure give politicians to influence outcomes? How adaptable are established political organizations?
The electoral system Japan established in 1955 resulted in a half-century of one-party democracy. But as Kr
Trade Review
I am on record—on the back of their book cover—as saying that Ellis Krauss and Robert Pekkanen's The Rise and Fall of Japan’s LDP is 'the best book ever written on Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party.' Despite the passage of a full year since I wrote the blurb, my enthusiasm for the book has not dulled.
-- Ethan Scheiner * Social Science Japan Journal *
In this excellent book the authors examine the inner workings of the LDP since it was established in 1955, a critically important topic given its dominant role in Japanese politics until 2009. It is a fascinating analysis of the institutions within the LDP and how they evolved over time.
-- Jeff Kingston * The Japan Times *
Krauss and Pekkanen's study is not about defeat, but survival... taking issue with more conventional and—their term—deductive interpretations of the LDP, and... with those who loaded most of the explanation of the LDP’s character and development on the nature of the SNTV MMD electoral system.... In short, Krauss and Pekkanen take aim at most of the conventional literature on the LDP and score a palpable hit. This is a convincing and persuasive analysis.... It goes without question that any scholar interested in the workings of Japanese party politics will also clearly benefit from this book. It is a major achievement.
-- Peter Mair * Japanese Journal of Political Science *
The greatest merit of this book is its comprehensive empirical underpinning, enabling the authors to overturn celebrated misapprehensions about Japanese politics. It is indeed a truly magisterial piece of work.
-- Arthur Stockwin * Journal of Japanese Studies *
This book demonstrates the limits of comparative statics approaches. Even long-time students of Japanese party politics will profit from this book.
-- Mike Thies * Party Politics *
When I first looked at this book, I was put off by the effusive praise of the reviews posted prominently on the back book cover. 'Best book ever written,' 'magnificent work will certainly become a classic,' 'likely to become the reference,' and 'this book will, I think, become a classic' all struck me as perhaps a bit strong in praise of this book. Thus I was surprised at my reaction after having read the book; I agreed with their hearty praise.
-- Ray Christensen * Pacific Affairs *
With their colorful detail and examples in this book... Krauss and Pekkanen have given us the definitive examination of the ways in which politics has changed since the seminal electoral reforms of the 1990s.
-- Leonard Schoppa * Perspectives on Politics *
Table of Contents1. The Liberal Democratic Party in Time
2. The Koenkai: Origin and Development of a Vote-Mobilization Machine
3. The Koenkai Today: Institutional Change
4. Factions under the Single Nontransferable Vote Mixed-Member District System
5. Factions Today
6. The Policy Affairs Research Council and Policymaking under the '55 System
7. The Policy Affairs Research Council after Reform
8. Party Leadership in the ’55 System
9. The Changing Role of Party Leadership
10. The Liberal Democratic Party out of Time?Coded Interviews
References
Index
