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Rethinking Japan: The Politics of Contested Nationalism
The authors argue that with the election of the Abe Government in December 2012, Japanese politics has entered a radically new phase they describe as the “2012 Political System.” The system began with the return to power of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), after three years in opposition, but in a much stronger electoral position than previous LDP-based administrations in earlier decades. Moreover, with the decline of previously endemic intra-party factionalism, the LDP has united around an essentially nationalist agenda never absent from the party’s ranks, but in the past was generally blocked, or modified, by factions of more liberal persuasion. Opposition weakness following the severe defeat of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) administration in 2012 has also enabled the Abe Government to establish a political stability largely lacking since the 1990s.
The first four chapters deal with Japanese political development since 1945 and factors leading to the emergence of Abe Shinzō as Prime Minister in 2012. Chapter 5 examines the Abe Government’s flagship economic policy, dubbed “Abenomics.” The authors then analyse four highly controversial objectives promoted by the Abe revision of the 1947 ‘Peace Constitution’; the introduction of a Secrecy Law; historical revision, national identity and issues of war apology; and revised constitutional interpretation permitting collective defence. In the final three chapters they turn to foreign policy, first examining relations with China, Russia and the two Koreas, second Japan and the wider world, including public diplomacy, economic relations and overseas development aid, and finally, the vexed question of how far Japanese policies are as reactive to foreign pressure.
In the Conclusion, the authors ask how far right wing trends in Japan exhibit common causality with shifts to the right in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. They argue that although in Japan immigration has been a relatively minor factor, economic stagnation, demographic decline, a sense of regional insecurity in the face of challenges from China and North Korea, and widening gaps in life chances, bear comparison with trends elsewhere. Nevertheless, they maintain that “[a] more sane regional future may be possible in East Asia.”
The first four chapters deal with Japanese political development since 1945 and factors leading to the emergence of Abe Shinzō as Prime Minister in 2012. Chapter 5 examines the Abe Government’s flagship economic policy, dubbed “Abenomics.” The authors then analyse four highly controversial objectives promoted by the Abe revision of the 1947 ‘Peace Constitution’; the introduction of a Secrecy Law; historical revision, national identity and issues of war apology; and revised constitutional interpretation permitting collective defence. In the final three chapters they turn to foreign policy, first examining relations with China, Russia and the two Koreas, second Japan and the wider world, including public diplomacy, economic relations and overseas development aid, and finally, the vexed question of how far Japanese policies are as reactive to foreign pressure.
In the Conclusion, the authors ask how far right wing trends in Japan exhibit common causality with shifts to the right in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. They argue that although in Japan immigration has been a relatively minor factor, economic stagnation, demographic decline, a sense of regional insecurity in the face of challenges from China and North Korea, and widening gaps in life chances, bear comparison with trends elsewhere. Nevertheless, they maintain that “[a] more sane regional future may be possible in East Asia.”
312 pages, Hardcover
Published February 15, 2017
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March 28, 2020
This could have been a great book it weren't so biased.
On the plus side it is must be noted that this book is a great introduction of Japanese politics, including domestic, foreign and security policy put in their historical context. Thus it is great read for beginners as well as experts on Japan and its politics and state. It is also a great book to understand the Abe phenomenon, because the developments since his reelections can only be understood knowing the roots in Japan's history and society. It gives good and short analysis on hot issues like Abenomics, constitutional reform etc.
On the negative side: this book is very biased, this is the leftist liberal narrative of Japan, Abe and Japanese politics. The book overuses labels (cliches) like revisionist, far-right, right radical, nationalist and the likes. In the view of the authors Abe (and Japan) is the evil, ad everything Abe thinks or does is essentially evil and bad. I don't think things should be discussed in such a black-and-white way. Though the underlying and primary message of the book the politics in Japan has significantly shifted to the right, is definitely true and this argument is very well supported by facts.
The bibliography is very thin, most of the references are from The Japan Times, which is a good daily paper, but doesn't deserve that much emphasis in a book like this. Among the Japanese language daily papers the book only quotes from Asahi and Mainichi, the two left leaning dailies and not a word of Yomiuri, which is the biggest, not to speak of Sankei or Nikkei.
The book can't avoid falling into the trap of Western liberals telling other countries how to run things, and by reading the book the impression can be that Japan is the bad guy in the region intentionally poisoning external relations by following a supposedly nationalist agenda - the truth is far from that. The authors visibly have problems with educational policy of the LDP and Abe, but it is difficult to understand why singing the national anthem or raising the Japanese flag in a Japanese school are overly nationalist things. The same applies for example for history textbooks. The authors criticise the ministry of education to whitewash prewar history in textbooks to flare up tensions with neighbouring countries but we don't know what they teach about history in Chinese, Korean or DPRK textbooks.
To sum it up: it could have been one of the best books I have read on Japanese politics, but the biased narrative diminishes the value of this book.
On the plus side it is must be noted that this book is a great introduction of Japanese politics, including domestic, foreign and security policy put in their historical context. Thus it is great read for beginners as well as experts on Japan and its politics and state. It is also a great book to understand the Abe phenomenon, because the developments since his reelections can only be understood knowing the roots in Japan's history and society. It gives good and short analysis on hot issues like Abenomics, constitutional reform etc.
On the negative side: this book is very biased, this is the leftist liberal narrative of Japan, Abe and Japanese politics. The book overuses labels (cliches) like revisionist, far-right, right radical, nationalist and the likes. In the view of the authors Abe (and Japan) is the evil, ad everything Abe thinks or does is essentially evil and bad. I don't think things should be discussed in such a black-and-white way. Though the underlying and primary message of the book the politics in Japan has significantly shifted to the right, is definitely true and this argument is very well supported by facts.
The bibliography is very thin, most of the references are from The Japan Times, which is a good daily paper, but doesn't deserve that much emphasis in a book like this. Among the Japanese language daily papers the book only quotes from Asahi and Mainichi, the two left leaning dailies and not a word of Yomiuri, which is the biggest, not to speak of Sankei or Nikkei.
The book can't avoid falling into the trap of Western liberals telling other countries how to run things, and by reading the book the impression can be that Japan is the bad guy in the region intentionally poisoning external relations by following a supposedly nationalist agenda - the truth is far from that. The authors visibly have problems with educational policy of the LDP and Abe, but it is difficult to understand why singing the national anthem or raising the Japanese flag in a Japanese school are overly nationalist things. The same applies for example for history textbooks. The authors criticise the ministry of education to whitewash prewar history in textbooks to flare up tensions with neighbouring countries but we don't know what they teach about history in Chinese, Korean or DPRK textbooks.
To sum it up: it could have been one of the best books I have read on Japanese politics, but the biased narrative diminishes the value of this book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review