The Annuals of Japanese Political Science Association

INTRODUCTION

Junnosuke Masumi, Suruki Akagi

1967 Volume 18 Pages 1-4,en1
Published: May 30, 1967
Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2009

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.7218/nenpouseijigaku1953.18.0_1

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The conservative fusion in 1955 and the rapid socio-economic developments of the last decade have, without question, greatly influenced the present political system. The extent and the manner of this influence can be viewed from different perspectives. The major concern here is, however, the roles of both the conservative party and the bureaucracy in the national and local processes of policy-making. All the articles were submitted prior to the dissolution of the House of Representatives in December 1966.

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OUTLINE OF POLICY-DECISION MAKING PROCESS SINCE 1955

Shigeo Misawa

1967 Volume 18 Pages 5-33,2
Published: May 30, 1967
Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2009

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.7218/nenpouseijigaku1953.18.0_5

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The author begins with the assumption that the conservative fusion gave rise to the present pattern of policy-making. He first attempts to distinguish the differences between the preand post-fusion patterns, and then sketches present trends. He emphasizes the following in analyzing the post-fusion pattern: the weakening of the Diet function; the evolution of the “planning” function for policy-making in the bureaucracy; the strengthening, “institutionalization”, and openly-avowed nature of the ties between the conservative party (Liberal Democratic), the bureaucracy, and big business; and the corresponding deterioration in the government's political leadership and policy-coordination function. These developments result from the conservative party's lack of intrinsic organizational strength and party discipline and its alignment into a “grand coalition of conservative factions” rather than a single, unitary party. The author also points to the strengthening of the government's public relations efforts as a direct result of the 1960 Japan-U. S. Security Treaty problem.

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THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY: ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION

Junnosuke Masumi

1967 Volume 18 Pages 34-77,en3
Published: May 30, 1967
Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2009

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.7218/nenpouseijigaku1953.18.0_34

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The Japanese political system in its present form emerged in 1955 when the socialists and conservatives unified their respective camps in quick succession, forming a two-party system controlled by the conservatives. The socialists and other opposition parties, . however, have exerted unremitting and increasing pressure on the conservative party, Rapid economic and social developments have also brought considerable pressure to bear on the conservative party system, with industrialization and urbanization eroding the traditional conservative strongholds. These pressures have compelled the party to face the question of party organization reforms, particularly since 1960. The author discusses three issues raised by the reforms. First, he mentions the dissolution of intraparty factions during the Ikeda government; second, political fund raising organizations, with particular emphasis on the Economic Reconstruction Debate Association and the National Association; and third, the education of party officials and the local party agent system. The party's role in the process of policy-making is then analyzed with respect to the Party Policy Investigation Board, the revision of the Japan-U. S. Security Treaty in 1960, and the Ikeda cabinet's Income Doubling Plan and New Industrial Cities Plan.
1. The conservative party since 1955.
2. Problems of party organization-party and factions; political contributions and the business circles; party headquarters and chapters.
3. The conservative party and the policy-making process-the Party Policy Investigation Board and governmental bureaucracy; case studies of foreign and domestic policy formulation.

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BEHAVIOR OF ECONOMIC BUREAUCRATS

Daiichi Ito

1967 Volume 18 Pages 78-104,4
Published: May 30, 1967
Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2009

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.7218/nenpouseijigaku1953.18.0_78

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The tendency toward sectionalism is especially pronounced in the higher levels of Japanese bureaucracy because each ministry separately and independently carries out its personnel administration. Within this bureaucracy the Finance Ministry occupies a relatively advantageous position, and to a certain extent, controls other ministries. The conservative fusion led to a significant rise in the bureaucracy's political influence. This development happened to coincide with the “growth” of the economy. The result is the marked increase in the influence of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, directly responsible for promoting the economic “growth policy”, and the Finance Ministry, responsible for controlling economic growth as a whole. The author analyzes the Income Doubling Plan, the crux of the “growth policy”, to ascertain the value system of the bureaucrats in solving or not solving political as well as economic difficulties. He concludes that the bureaucrats at first resisted and then accepted the “growth policy” in both instances because of and in order to defend their value system of “honesty and steadfastness”.
1. The economic bureaucrat as power holder.
2. Income Doubling Plan.
3. Value system of economic bureaucrats.

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REGIONAL POLICY AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATION

Niko Kawanaka

1967 Volume 18 Pages 105-131_1
Published: May 30, 1967
Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2009

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.7218/nenpouseijigaku1953.18.0_105

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A distinguishing trait of the decision-making process on the local-government level in Japan is the strong influence exerted by the central government. In fact, local autonomy has been and continues to be greatly circumscribed by interference from the central government. The control from the center is getting stronger, and the local planning bodies are acting as mere agents of Tokyo. Thus local leaders are continuously looking to and working through central administrative and parliamentary channels; they insist that grants-in-aid be given as if their “local interests” were “national interests”. This stems from the central government's ability to control local policy-making through grants-in-aid. In deciding the need for grantsin-aid, popular participation by local inhabitants is minimal. Rather, the local administrative leaders' attention is directed to the possibility of getting or not getting the “approval of the central government”.
1. Problems of local policy.
2. The central government's role in the decision-making process of regional policy—characteristics of policy-making on the local level; grants-in-aid administration and regional power; dilemma of grants-in-aid control.
3. Regional development and administrative process—commencement of development policy; development policy in the embryonic stage; high priority development regions.
4. Regional policy-making process—role of local government; heteronomy of regional policy; enticement of the central government's interest; regional planning in heavy industry areas; regional planning in underdeveloped areas.
5. Political process of designating standards for regional development—plurality of designation standards; regional inhabitants and regional power.

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LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC AND SOCIALIST PARTIES: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Masao Soma

1967 Volume 18 Pages 132-158,6
Published: May 30, 1967
Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2009

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.7218/nenpouseijigaku1953.18.0_132

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Public investment is one of the most effective administrative measures by which the central government controls local government. This phenomenon is particularly evident in the case of regional development policy since the 1950's. The author seeks to determine the extent of the changes in local party organizations and activities under the pressure of the regional development policy. The conservative party's local chapters have been changing from the traditional “solid” machines based on traditional communities and developing into “functional vote-getting” machines. The leadership of the Socialist Party's local chapters has been swiftly shifting from farmers' unions to labor unions. Policy differences are also reflected: the conservatives stress direct connection between the central and local governments, whereas the socialists strive for close relationship between local government and local inhabitants. However, in general, local government clearly reflects the deficiencies of the central government.
1. National policy and local politics.
2. The Liberal Democratic Party—organization and role of the prefectural federation of local chapters; endorsement process of party candidates for public offices; prefectural assemblymen and Diet representatives; candidate-supporting associations; professionalization of prefectural assemblymen; realignment of conservative control.
3. The Socialist Party—local organizations; daily activities; electioneering; system power and movement power.

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[title in Japanese]

[in Japanese]

1967 Volume 18 Pages 159-171
Published: May 30, 1967
Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2009

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.7218/nenpouseijigaku1953.18.0_159

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[title in Japanese]

1967 Volume 18 Pages 173-186
Published: May 30, 1967
Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2009

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.7218/nenpouseijigaku1953.18.0_173

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[title in Japanese]

[in Japanese]

1967 Volume 18 Pages 187-189
Published: May 30, 1967
Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2009

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.7218/nenpouseijigaku1953.18.0_187

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