Interest Aggregation
Patron-Client Network
Japanese methods of interest aggregation lie predominantly in patron-client networks.
Definition-System in which a central officeholder, authority figure, or group provides benefits (patronage) to supporters in exchange for their loyalty.
Definition-System in which a central officeholder, authority figure, or group provides benefits (patronage) to supporters in exchange for their loyalty.
Japan: A Competitive Party System
The Japanese political system has three types of elections:
Japan's Multiparty System/Political Parties:
- General elections to the House of Representatives held every four years (unless the lower house is dissolved earlier)
- Elections to the House of Councillors held every three years to choose one-half of its members
- Local elections held every four years for offices in prefectures, cities, and villages.
Japan's Multiparty System/Political Parties:
- Consociational party system: it is both consensual and conflictual due to the widespread number of parties across the Left-Right scale.
- Two MAIN political parties: the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
- There are also many other smaller, less powerful parties with less representation. A few of them include: the Japanese Socialist Party, the Communist Party, the New Komeito, and the People's Life First Party.
- The House of Representatives (Shugi-in) has 480 members, elected for a four year term, 300 members in single-seat constituencies and 180 members by proportional representation in 11 block districts
- The House of Councillors (Sangi-in) has 242 members, elected for a six year term, 146 members in multi-seat constituencies and 96 by proportional representation on the national level
- Basically, Japan uses both Single Member District Plurality (SMDP) and Proportional Representation (PR)
The Military's Role in Society
The Japan Self-Defense Forces (自衛隊 Jieitai), or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF or SDF, are the unified military forces of Japan that were established after the end of the post–World War II Allied occupation of Japan. For most of the post-war period the JSDF was confined to the islands of Japan and not permitted to be deployed abroad. In recent years they have been engaged in international peacekeeping operations. Recent tensions, particularly with North Korea, have reignited the debate over the status of the JSDF and its relation to Japanese society.
Appreciation of the SDF continued to grow in the 1980s, with over half of the respondents in a 1988 survey voicing an interest in the SDF and over 76% indicating that they were favorably impressed. Although the majority (63.5%) of respondents were aware that the primary purpose of the SDF was maintenance of national security, an even greater number (77%) saw disaster relief as the most useful SDF function. The SDF therefore continued to devote much of its time and resources to disaster relief and other civic action. Between 1984 and 1988, at the request of prefectural governors, the SDF assisted in approximately 3,100 disaster relief operations, involving about 138,000 personnel, 16,000 vehicles, 5,300 aircraft, and 120 ships and small craft. In addition, the SDF participated in earthquake disaster prevention operations and disposed of a large quantity of World War II explosive ordnance, especially in Okinawa. The forces also participated in public works projects, cooperated in managing athletic events, took part in annual Antarctic expeditions, and conducted aerial surveys to report on ice conditions for fishermen and on geographic formations for construction projects. Especially sensitive to maintaining harmonious relations with communities close to defense bases, the SDF built new roads, irrigation networks, and schools in those areas. Soundproofing was installed in homes and public buildings near airfields. Despite these measures, local resistance to military installations remained strong in some areas.
Appreciation of the SDF continued to grow in the 1980s, with over half of the respondents in a 1988 survey voicing an interest in the SDF and over 76% indicating that they were favorably impressed. Although the majority (63.5%) of respondents were aware that the primary purpose of the SDF was maintenance of national security, an even greater number (77%) saw disaster relief as the most useful SDF function. The SDF therefore continued to devote much of its time and resources to disaster relief and other civic action. Between 1984 and 1988, at the request of prefectural governors, the SDF assisted in approximately 3,100 disaster relief operations, involving about 138,000 personnel, 16,000 vehicles, 5,300 aircraft, and 120 ships and small craft. In addition, the SDF participated in earthquake disaster prevention operations and disposed of a large quantity of World War II explosive ordnance, especially in Okinawa. The forces also participated in public works projects, cooperated in managing athletic events, took part in annual Antarctic expeditions, and conducted aerial surveys to report on ice conditions for fishermen and on geographic formations for construction projects. Especially sensitive to maintaining harmonious relations with communities close to defense bases, the SDF built new roads, irrigation networks, and schools in those areas. Soundproofing was installed in homes and public buildings near airfields. Despite these measures, local resistance to military installations remained strong in some areas.