WOW! :bikkuri: you have a lot of big questions there! But this is good; a strong challenge needn't necessarily be shied away from . . .
So quick off the cuff answers . . .
qtprincess2785 said:
In your opinion, can you tell me the most innovative policies initiated by Japan's Liberal Democratic Party?
Well, in recent news you will want to look into the reform of the Postal System, specifically its banking aspects, that has been pushed through by PM Koizumi and those loyal to him in the LDP.
In addition to that, you could also look into the recent elections where many of the 'old guard' politicians of the LDP were tossed out in favor of new and often inexperienced politicians who were both loyal to PM Koizumi and apparently popular with the Japanese voters (these politicians have euphemistically been referred to as 'Koizumi's Children'; might be handy to put that into a search). The popular support of 'Koizumi's Children' has kind of caused a rise in the power of the voters to influence otherwise stodgy Japanese politics.
You could also look into the dicussions to alter the Japanese constitution, particularly Article 9 which forbids a Japanese military (per se). Although the idea of constitutional revision is not new, it has gained much more momentum in the past year or two, especially with Japan's deployment of troops to the Middle East as part of the U.S.-led coalition in that region.
qtprincess2785 said:
What has been Koizumi's impact as the LDP leader?
Freakin' huge!!!
Sorry; I couldn't help that. Well, despite having a conservative LDP politician for a father, and having rather conservative credentials of his own until becoming leader of the LDP and the PM, PM Koizumi has really become known for an arrogant, renegade reformer. Let's see, how can we turn that into something useful?
Well, for starters, all of the above-mentioned topics have been driven pretty much by PM Koizumi. That should help you start to understand the impact he is having.
The fact that he challenged (and succeeded against!) the old guard of the LDP has been very noteworthy. Not only was he able to push his reforms through despite resistance from even within the LDP, he actually was the catalyst for many long-time members of the LDP and Japanese politics to be ousted from their positions!
Of course, on the international scene, PM Koizumi's renegade, devil-may-care approach has exacerbated already shaky relations with Japan's neighbors. Just enter 'Yasukuni Shrine visits' into a search engine and you will see what I mean.
So, domestically, PM Koizumi is really moving Japanese politics and policies towards more progressive waters, but internationally he may have set back some relations by . . . oh, a decade or two.
qtprincess2785 said:
and what makes the LDP so powerful?
This is a very difficult question to answer briefly because there are so many things that contribute to the LDP's hold on power. Briefly . . .
- Political support from the U.S. extending back to the years just after WWII;
- Corporate support (some would say corruption . . . follow the money trail, as it were; also, try looking up 'amakudari');
- Cronyism;
- The fact that opposition parties tend to compete with one another more so than with the LDP, which undercuts any challenge that they might pose politically to the LDP stranglehold on Japanese political power. opposition coalitions are rare and often short-lived (check out Morihiro Hosokawa for a recent example of successful, if brief, opposition politics in Japan);
- The LDP courts farmers heavily, who in turn have disproportionately strong influence in the elcetion system due to their more rural districts having qual clout as more densely populated (and liberal) urban districts.
These are just a few of the pieces to the puzzle of the LDP's grip on political power in Japan. Good luck in sorting it out!
Some books that might help you along as well are:
U.S.-Japan Relations in a Changing World, edited by Steven K. Vogel
The Making of Modern Japan, Second Edition, by Kenneth B. Pyle
Yakuza: Japan's Criminal Underworld, Expanded Edition, by David E. Kaplan and Alec Dubro (this will defintely give some insight to the dirty side of politics!)
Japan's Reluctant Realism, by Michael J. Green
Japan: Who Governs?, The Rise of the Developmental State, by Chalmers Johnson
Arthritic Japan: The Slow Pace of Economic Reform, by Edward J. Lincoln
qtprincess2785 said:
I am preparing for a research paper . . .
Thank you so much for your time!!!
Also, if you could supply your name and title, I would be very much appreciative....thanks again!
Just out of curiosity, what kind of research paper?
You're welcome.
Name and title? Hm . . . maybe, but only if you tell me why! Heh heh . . .
quid pro quo, ne.
Anyway, best of luck to you . . .
