The Evolution of 'Social Liberalism' in Modern Japan : A Historical Analysis on 'The Theory of the Right to Live' of Tokuzo Fukuda

Abstract

This paper deals with Tokuzo Fukuda (1874-1930), who was one of the representative economists from the end of Meiji to early Showa. He is also famous as a frontier of modern economics as well as a pioneer of the economic history in Japan (His work, 'Die wirtschaftliche und gesellschaftliche Entwicklung in Japan, Stuttgart, 1900', which was written under Lujo Brentano's direction, is the first scientific research for Japanese economic history). This paper, however, did not concern him as a scholar, but a thinker who grasped the actual problems in this country and seeked to solve them. Fukuda as an intellectual was concerned with the relationship between the state and the capitalist society through his life. His idea lied on the social reform by means of voluntary activities and associations of individuals, furthermore on the reconstruction of capitalist state based on the above social reform. His position may be defined as 'Social Liberalism (die soziale liberale Ideenrichtung)', used as self-definition by Lujo Brentano who had a great influence on Fukuda. In modern Japan the social policy, on the one hand, as in the case of Kumazo Kuwata (1868-1932) and Noboru Kanai (1865-1933) who were leaders and formed the right wing in 'the Society for Japanese social policy (Verein fur Sozialpolitik in Japan)', was based on the statism or ethical norm, on the other hand the liberalism tended to be argued as laissez faire so as to exclude the interference of the state. Under these intellectual conditions Fukuda who oriented himself to combine freedom and interference, and to join independent society and positive state occupied a very unique position. His ideological process can be understood to show the possibility and problems of liberalism in modern Japan. His ideological process can be divided into following three periods. (I).1900-1910 ; he theoretically depended on 'neue historische Schule' of Germany and introduced its theory to Japan. In this period his problem-consciousness was the modernization of Japanese social and economic situation which was quite backward compare to western Europe. From this view point he advocated to enact Factory Law and abolish Rice Tariff and enlightened the necessities of entrepreneurship among Japanese capitalists. (II).1911-1920 ; he transfered his theoretical position to the neo-classical school (particularly of A.Marshall) and tried to study Marxist economic theory. Concerning the social policy he proposed the theory of 'the right to live', noticing the development of 'the liberal reform' in England and the theory of Anton Menger (especially of his 'Das Recht auf den vollen Arbeitsertrag in gesellschaftlicher Darstellung. 1886') and committed himself to refine it. In this period he not only studied in his laboratry, but also participated in actual activities, and he organized 'Reimeikai' (黎明会) with Sakuzo Yoshino (1878-1933) and became a leader of the 'Taisho Democracy'. The influence of Fukuda as a thinker reached the peak in his life. (III).1921-1930 ; after the World War I the socialism rapidly exerted on intellectual circles and the government advocated the 'collaborationism (協調主義)' as a new principle of industrial relations instead of the paternalism. With the intention of criticizing both these tendencies, he constructed a theory of the State, which appreciated the voluntary activities of workers and aimed at the improvement of their welfare by reinterpreting 'Das soziale Konigtum' of Lorenz von Stein. This may be regarded as a pioneer of 'Welfare state therory' in Japan. This essay mainly brings the second period into focus, and tries to examine the character of his theory of 'the right to live' and its historical significance.