48 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
Domestic Dynamics
In the wake of major domestic and international changes, most especially the end of the Cold War and 9/11 for all, but additionally the collapse of the asset bubble in Japan and the transition from military authoritarianism to democratization in the ROK and Taiwan, all of the countries in question saw sharply divided domestic coalitions pressing for often diametrically opposed courses in national security and foreign policy. This brief begins by noting the limits of classical realist interpretations of international relations in Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific. It then addresses the importance of ‘comprehensive security’ as a driver for all of the countries in question. Finally, it examines the broad domestic clashes over foreign and security policy in each of four key democracies in the region and closes with a few general observations about the salience of regional domestic politics
Recommended from our members
Domestic Dynamics
In the wake of major domestic and international changes, most especially the end of the Cold War and 9/11 for all, but additionally the collapse of the asset bubble in Japan and the transition from military authoritarianism to democratization in the ROK and Taiwan, all of the countries in question saw sharply divided domestic coalitions pressing for often diametrically opposed courses in national security and foreign policy. This brief begins by noting the limits of classical realist interpretations of international relations in Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific. It then addresses the importance of ‘comprehensive security’ as a driver for all of the countries in question. Finally, it examines the broad domestic clashes over foreign and security policy in each of four key democracies in the region and closes with a few general observations about the salience of regional domestic politics
Recommended from our members
Japanese Bureaucratic Transparency
This brief examines the issue of transparency during and after the period of political dominance by the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) which ruled with only a brief nine-month interruption from 1955–2009. It highlights two related but analytically separate dimensions of governmental transparency—transparency in decision-making processes and transparency in official policies. The first concentrates on the public visibility of how agencies decide on matters under their jurisdiction; the second focuses on how visible actual government policies are to those most affected by them and to the general citizenry. I argue that Japanese agencies have been far more open on policy content than on the processes by which those decisions were reached. In addition, this brief examines recent changes designed to foster greater transparency in both process and policy, including a Freedom of Information Act, e-government provisions, enhanced roles for parliamentary inquiry, a greater role for nongovernmental organizations, and other measures. It also highlights the broad shifts in government attitudes toward transparency under the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which has governed since 2009
Recommended from our members
Japanese Bureaucratic Transparency
This brief examines the issue of transparency during and after the period of political dominance by the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) which ruled with only a brief nine-month interruption from 1955–2009. It highlights two related but analytically separate dimensions of governmental transparency—transparency in decision-making processes and transparency in official policies. The first concentrates on the public visibility of how agencies decide on matters under their jurisdiction; the second focuses on how visible actual government policies are to those most affected by them and to the general citizenry. I argue that Japanese agencies have been far more open on policy content than on the processes by which those decisions were reached. In addition, this brief examines recent changes designed to foster greater transparency in both process and policy, including a Freedom of Information Act, e-government provisions, enhanced roles for parliamentary inquiry, a greater role for nongovernmental organizations, and other measures. It also highlights the broad shifts in government attitudes toward transparency under the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which has governed since 2009
Recommended from our members
Structural Gaiastu: International Finance and Political Change in Japan
Argues that the principal contributor to changes in Japan’s political economy is the decline of Japanese governmental control over capital flows and foreign exchange rates brought about by structural “gaiatsu”, or direct foreign pressure. Differs from previous analysis of gaiatsu by arguing that international capital and market forces generate gaiatsu, not foreign governments, and that its influence has been worldwide as well as deeper and more ongoing than bilateral negotiating sessions and joint communiqués related to trade. Discusses how the change has catalyzed a major increase in foreign direct investment by Japanese-owned corporations, a reduction in government’s ability to control corporate behavior, a diminution of intra-corporate linkages, conflict within national economic policies and the increased penetration of the Japanese economy
by foreign financial institutions. Describes how the change has resulted in an emerging socio-economic gap in Japan between individuals, groups and organizations. Demonstrates how the Japanese experience suggests the transformative power of global capital markets on national political economies, particularly those that have been interventionist in nature.Japan Industry and Management of Technology (JIMT) ProgramIC2 Institut
Belt and Road Initiative: Responses from Japan and India – Bilateralism, Multilateralism and Collaborations
The Politics of Economic Reform in Japan
The Australia–Japan Research Centre (AJRC) hosted a roundtable discussion on 'The Politics of Economic Reform in Japan' on Friday 26 July at the Australian National University (ANU). Professor T. J. Pempel from the University of Washington led the discussion with a presentation on 'Regime Change -Japanese Politics in a Changing World Economy'. A panel discussion on 'The Political Economy of Reform' began with a Re~ presentation by Centre Associate Ms Veronica Taylor from the Asian Law Centre, University of Melbourne, on 'Restructuring Transactions in the Shadow of the Japan Fair Trade Commission'. Former Associate Director of the AJRC, Associate Professor Hayden Lesbirel from James Cook University, followed with 'Wheeling and Dealing: Reforming Electricity Markets in Japan'. Centre student Mr Tony Warren presented a paper on 'The Political Economy of Reform in Services and Professor Purnendra Jain from the University of Adelaide closed the session with his paper on 'Political Reform and Local Government in Japan'.\ud
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The second session, 'The Politics of Reform in Japan', began with a paper by AJRC Research Committee member Professor Alan Rix (University of Queensland) on 'Reforming Japan's Natural Disaster Management System'. This was followed by AJRC student Mr Chris Pokarier's paper, 'Some Reflections on Recent Economic and Political Developments in Japan'. Centre Associate Dr Aurelia George Mulgan (ADFA, University of New South Wales) presented two papers: 'Electoral Determinants of Agrarian Power: Measuring Rural Decline in Japan' and 'Politics of Deregulation and Japanese Agriculture'. The last paper in the session, 'Consumer Movements in a New Political Environment', was presented by Centre Research Fellow and Lecturer in Political Science at the ANU, Dr Keiko Tabusa