Description
Cambridge Democracy Without Competition In Japan Opposition Failure In A One-Party Dominant State by Ethan Scheiner
Despite its democratic structure, Japan's government has been dominated by a single party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since 1955. This book offers an explanation for why, even in the face of great dissatisfaction with the LDP, no opposition party has been able to offer itself as a credible challenger in Japan. Understanding such failure is important for many reasons, from its effect on Japanese economic policy to its implications for what facilitates democratic responsiveness more broadly. The principal explanations for opposition failure in Japan focus on the country's culture and electoral system. This book offers a new interpretation, arguing that a far more plausible explanation rests on the predominance in Japan of clientelism, combined with a centralized government structure and electoral protection for groups that benefit from clientelism. While the central case in the book is Japan, the analysis is also comparative and applies the framework cross-nationally. Preface; About the authors; Part 1: Model of a Fieldwork Project - The field work project as a consulting process: Graduating and consultancy; Effective consulting; Ten-Step Plan (TSP); Chapter notes; The three main phases of the consulting process: Orientation phase; Research and solution phase; Implementation phase; Chapter notes; Part 2: The Ten-Step Plan - Preliminary step: Acquisition of a fieldwork project: List of action points; Step 1: External orientation: List of action points; Chapter notes; Exercises for Step 1; Step 2: The intake meeting: List of action points; Chapter notes; Exercises for Step 2; Step 3: Orientational interviews: Topics for discussion; Interview technique; List of action points; Chapter notes; Exercises for Step 3; Step 4: The analysis: Description of the processes; Differences of opinion; What should be the result of the feedback session?; Platform group; Further plan of action; Examples of fieldwork projects; Definite assignment formulation; List of action oints; Chapter notes; Exercises for Step 4; Step 5: Feedback/contracting: Organization of the feedback session; Contents of the feedback presentation; List of action points; Chapter notes; Exercises for Step 5; Step 6: Work planning and organization: Justification mode; Work planning and project organization; List of action points; Chapter notes; Exercises for Step 6; Step 7: In-depth research: Formulation of the research questions; Methods of collecting and analysing information; Analysis from the outside in; Coping with several common problems; List of action points; Chapter notes; Exercises for Step 7; Step 8: Solution plan: Reporting on the solution; Opposition; List of action points; Chapter notes; Exercises for Step 8; Step 9: Implementation: Implementation plan; Change organization; Selecting your own role; Risk factors; Intervention tools; 'Small steps' forward; Suggestions; List of action points; Chapter notes; Exercises for Step 9; Step 10: Conclusion and evaluation: Final report; Concluding interviews and evaluation of assignment; Your own evaluation; Chapter note; Exercises for Step 10; Part 3 - Divergent Scenarios - Alternative consultancy processes: Profile of the customer in the TSP approach; Conclusion; References; Index.