Quiet Buraku Discrimination

The Reproduction of Discrimination under Governance of Neo-liberalism

Abstract

 The process of shifting from a welfare state to a neo-liberalism state dovetailed with the process of shifting from the Toshin period of “A Report of Dowa Measure Deliberation Council to Cabinet” to the Iken-gushin period of “A Report for Basic Policy about Early Solution to Dowa Problem”. During this process, the consciousness and sentiment of the general public toward burakumin definitely changed.　However, this change never verges on a positive and affinity relation between burakumin and the general public, which is a discourse by some scholars. Many scholars insist that buraku discrimination has become only a minor problem from that of having been a serious problem. On the contrary, real buraku discrimination has become more serious and more invisible than before. The “selfresponsibility method” is the conventional view under neo-liberalism ideology in Japan, which is the intermediary to personalize buraku discrimination. As a result, burakumin receive new types of stigma and obvious hostility from the general public. In addition, some workers subjectify to designate burakumin as a target of maintenance for public security.

 On the other hand, it appears some burakumin accept the ideology of neo-liberalism and subjectify it. Some burakumin never disclose themselves as burakumin, and meticulously keep their identity quiet. This circumstance shows the reality of governance toward burakumin and the general public, and also shows a total lack of understanding by the traditional power method.

 These changes are bringing the conditions of a restructuring of buraku and the reproduction of buraku discrimination. The chorus of recent optimistic scholars who insist upon the “disappearing process method” deafen the grinding sounds of the reconstructing process.