On August 30, 2009, Lower House elections for the bicameral Diet were held in Japan where the DPJ, short for Democratic Party of Japan, achieved a landslide victory. Never before has the opposition party in Japan reached such a clear success in becoming the new ruling party of Japan and making the thus far dominant Liberal Democratic Party, abbreviated as LDP, the new opposition. As the newly elected government argues that the Iron Triangle Model, which dominates Japanese policy making processes, is outdated and proposed plans on how to reform it, new discussions about this post-war concept arose. Thus, this paper will deal with the following questions. In how far has the Iron Triangle Model been reformed in the recent years? Is Japan shifting away from this post-war model and, what, if anything, has been achieved by contemporary reforms? In how far are the reform attempts of former Prime Minister Koizumi and Prime Minister Hatoyama similar to each other? The goal of the paper is to answer these questions while also giving a diligent insight and thorough understanding of the Iron Triangle Model. Moreover, this model for Japanese policy making and its up-to-dateness will be rated. For answering these research questions, not only the newly proposed plans of the Democratic Party of Japan are to be elaborated and evaluated, but also the contemporary reform attempt of Koizumi Jun’ichirō, which started in 2001, is to be explained. While most scientific analyses and traditional studies tended to focus almost exclusively on either Prime Minister Koizumi’s or Prime Minister Hatoyama’s reform attempts in economic as well as institutional terms, this paper spotlights on a juxtaposition of Koizumi Jun'ichirō and Hatoyama Yukio’s institutional reforms.
The reform attempts will be compared and evaluated based on scientific journals and research papers that solely focus on one of the actors or specific topics discussed in this analysis combining their findings. Also, official government information, publications by political parties and data from textbooks will deliver theoretical background and additional insight. The theory applied to solve the research question is the Iron Triangle Model, which characterizes Japanese policy making throughout the post-war era. An in-depth evaluation of the model, the actor’s roles as well as the reform attempts themselves will be executed to present a sound juxtaposition.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. THE IRON TRIANGLE
2.1 THE IRON TRIANGLE MODEL
2.2 ACTORS WITHIN THE IRON TRIANGLE
2.2.1 LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY
2.2.2 BUREAUCRACY
2.2.3 INDUSTRY
2.3 INTERLINKAGE BETWEEN THE ACTORS
2.3.1 BUREAUCRACY AND INDUSTRY
2.3.2 INDUSTRY AND THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY
2.3.3 THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND BUREAUCRACY
2.3.4 UNIVERSITY TIES
3. REFORMS UNDER KOIZUMI JUN'ICHIRŌ
3.1 INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
3.2 ENDURANCE OF THE CHANGES
4. REFORMS UNDER HATOYAMA YUKIO
4.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE REFORM
4.2 CHALLENGES
5. JUXTAPOSITION OF REFORM ATTEMPTS
5.1 SIMILARITIES
5.2 DIFFERENCES
5.3 EVALUATION
6. CONCLUSION
Objectives & Themes
This thesis examines the contemporary attempts to reform the Japanese policy-making process by analyzing the "Iron Triangle Model," which traditionally links the Liberal Democratic Party, the bureaucracy, and the industrial sector. The primary research question addresses whether Japan is successfully shifting away from this post-war model through reforms initiated by former Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichirō and Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio.
- Analysis of the historical evolution and structural components of the Iron Triangle Model.
- Evaluation of the institutional reforms implemented under the Koizumi administration.
- Investigation of the objectives and challenges faced by the Hatoyama government in challenging bureaucratic influence.
- Juxtaposition of the reform strategies employed by both administrations to determine their impact on political structures.
Auszug aus dem Buch
2.3.1 Bureaucracy and Industry
In Japan, one can find a cozy government-business relationship (Amyx and Drysdale 2003: 3). One of the strongest connections between these two actors is a habit called amakudari, which literally means ‘descent from heaven’ (Asano and Eto 2003: 2). This informal institution is created by reemploying retired bureaucratic officials into senior management positions in the private sector (Suzuki 2004: 2). After having completed their career within a ministry, the elites are forced to retire in their early fifties (Colignon and Usui 2003: 3). When bureaucrats reach that age “their career mobility options begin to narrow, as there are few section chief positions, fewer bureau chief positions, and only one vice-ministership for each ministry” (Dean 2002: 253). At that point in life, one option for retired ministers is to take a job in the industry (Neary 2002: 114). Only two years after retiring from a government agency, the bureaucrats are legally allowed to get officially employed by a private sector enterprise. However, informal ties of giving advice and unofficially supervising companies usually start even prior to that (Pohl 1985: 95).
Other than that, there are no legal limitations for this traditional habit (Johnson 1995: 142). There are three major elements that give amakudari an important role within Japanese policy making. Firstly, the ‘descents from heaven’ occupy top positions within powerful institutions and, hence, intertwine those organizations. Additionally, retired bureaucratic officials grant a symbolic authority and administering structures of political involvement and decision making processes. Thus, the bureaucratic elite can circumvent changes that might occur under different circumstances. Lastly, amakudari as an institution, which opposes and reduces the demand for change, maintain stability within the Japanese private sector (Colignon and Usui 2003: 172).
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the Iron Triangle Model as the primary framework for understanding Japanese policy-making and outlines the research objective of comparing Koizumi's and Hatoyama's reform attempts.
2. THE IRON TRIANGLE: This chapter provides a theoretical exploration of the tripartite model, detailing the historical roles and interdependencies between the Liberal Democratic Party, the bureaucracy, and the industrial sector.
3. REFORMS UNDER KOIZUMI JUN'ICHIRŌ: This chapter analyzes the institutional changes introduced during Koizumi's premiership and assesses the long-term endurance of these reforms after his departure.
4. REFORMS UNDER HATOYAMA YUKIO: This chapter examines the specific reform goals of the Hatoyama administration and the significant hurdles encountered in attempting to dismantle bureaucratic control.
5. JUXTAPOSITION OF REFORM ATTEMPTS: This chapter compares the similarities and differences between the two leaders' approaches, evaluating their overall success in reforming the policy-making process.
6. CONCLUSION: This chapter synthesizes the findings, concluding that while reform attempts have been made, the Iron Triangle structures remain largely resilient and deeply rooted in Japanese politics.
Keywords
Iron Triangle, Japan, Policy Making, Liberal Democratic Party, Bureaucracy, Industry, Amakudari, Koizumi Jun'ichirō, Hatoyama Yukio, Institutional Reform, Westminster System, Zoku, Gakubatsu, Political Reform, Governance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this thesis?
The work focuses on the "Iron Triangle Model" of Japanese policy-making and how recent administrations have attempted to reform these traditional political and economic structures.
What are the primary actors within the Iron Triangle?
The three main actors are the dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the central Japanese bureaucracy, and the industrial sector (zaikai).
What is the ultimate goal of the research?
The paper aims to evaluate how much the Japanese policy-making process has actually changed in recent years and whether the reform attempts of Koizumi and Hatoyama have successfully dismantled the traditional model.
Which scientific method is applied in this analysis?
The author uses a qualitative approach, juxtaposing the institutional reforms of two different administrations to analyze their outcomes and the persistence of existing power structures.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the theoretical background of the Iron Triangle, the historical power dynamics of the involved actors, and a detailed critique of the reform efforts under the Koizumi and Hatoyama administrations.
How would you characterize the key themes?
The key themes include political reform, the influence of interest groups, the struggle for leadership between politicians and civil servants, and the enduring nature of elite social networks.
What is the significance of the "Iron Rhombus Model" introduced in the conclusion?
The Iron Rhombus Model illustrates the shifting power dynamics with the rise of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), suggesting a potential evolution toward a more competitive two-party system.
How does the author evaluate the "amakudari" practice in the context of reforms?
The author views amakudari as a deeply entrenched practice that persists despite reform attempts, serving as a significant link between retired bureaucrats and private industry that complicates efforts to separate public and private interests.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Remi Bauer (Autor:in), 2010, "Breaking the Iron Triangle". Contemporary Attempts on Reforming the Japanese Policy Making Process, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/231835
