2009 Volume 32 Issue 4 Pages 3-8
In Japan, as compared with the US and some EU countries, the independent policy think-tanks, above all, so called “advocacy think-tanks” have been so far less developed and valued in public governance. But, major shift in sociopolitical paradigm in recent years, such as new emergence of various “policy-networks” and complication or sophistication in policy issues like climate changes requires, in the field of public governance, promotion of making good use of the specialized or coordinated “APAOs” (Alternative Policy Advisory Organizations) represented by active thinktanks. Lately, even in local governance, so called “municipal think-tanks” established mainly by city-governments have been increasing in the process of decentralization. This situation, as well as popularization of “manifesto” as policy-package, can be considered a sign of introduction of “evidencebased policy making” into Japanese local governance.
