 | ISBN: 978-1-58826-581-4 $68.50 | |
| 2008/253 pages/LC: 2007043332 A related title: Money Politics in Japan: New Rules, Old Practices by Matthew Carlson. | ||
Widespread dissatisfaction in Japan in the 1990s set the stage for numerous political reforms aimed at enhancing representation and accountability. But have these reforms in fact improved the quality of Japanese democracy? Through the lens of this question, the authors explore contemporary Japanese politics at the national, local, and grassroots levels. Their systematic analysis of when and how citizens attempt to create and use new opportunities to articulate political interests offers insights not only on the current state of Japanese democracy, but also on the dynamics of political behavior over all.
“An invaluable resource for understanding change and stagnancy in mature democracies.... Provides empirically nuanced, theoretically informed analyses of some of the central issues in Japanese politics today.... Essential reading for scholars and students of Japanese politics and democratic institutions alike."—Erin Chung, Pacific Affairs
"An outstanding interim report on the recent political transformation of Japan.... Although the subject matter is a moving target, the authors have analyzed the changes under way with admirable clarity.... An invaluable tool for anyone seeking to make sense of Japan’s rapidly changing political landscape."—Gregory J. Kasza, Japanese Journal of Political Science
"The contributors do not offer easy answers and instead provide nuanced arguments about the tradeoffs of democratic reforms.... A must read for all students of contemporary Japanese politics."—Mary Alice Haddad, Wesleyan University