Abstract
This paper attempts to study the power structure of “S-Rengo-Chonaikai”, a suburban ward association in Sapporo city, Japan from 1955 to 1983. The community power structure is analyzed mainly through the issue-approach together with the positional and reputational methods.
Through this analysis, the followings are made clear. As the community becomes increasingly involved and interrelated in the large societal complex, the differentiation of leadership is notable, and the function of this Rengo-chonaikai is reduced. But the older pattern of leadership (the control of the old middle class) is still dominant. The leaders of the land-based elite tie up with new business ones and they keep their influence by the control of new power resources such as “land”, “network”, and “communication”. For they play central roles in solving urban facility problems (road maintenance, water service, school, etc.). Thus, they keep their vested interests, while they give contentment to new residents. In short, their position and influence are maintained by the balance of power between the land-based elite and the new-commers.
