In the following pages I will try to examine the nature of Japanese elite´s. It interests me how they are composed, how they work and persist but also why they do the same. For that I will try to look into elite theory from Gaetano Mosca, Vilfredo Pareto, G. Lowell Field and John Higley, C. Wright Mills and Harold D. Lasswell. My aim is to take bricks of their theories out and apply it to the Japanese national elite system. Therefore I will recognize the Iran Triangle of the Political, Corporate and Ministry elite as Harold Kerbo and John A. McKinstry use it (Kerbo/McKinstry 1995). First of all I will define the terms that will be used in this work and then look into the theories of scientists I talked about above. In the next chapter I go right to Japan to get a small insight of the elite-structure there. After examining the Corporate, Ministry and Political Elite separately I look do the factors that hold them t ogether more closely. The education system, social clubs and business organizations as also the very important family connections. With some questions Lasswell asked for his work, I bring in further thoughts as the theory and fact go together. So my questions are what is the elite in Japan? Of what elements does it consists and how does it persist? What’s wrong with this democratic system organization, if there is something wrong with it. Is it going to change in the next years or is it likely to persist for a very long time, over generations? Is there a better system for Japan? And what would that be? I can see that this is not going to be a very sorrow study since the work is taking place in the frame of a student seminar but I take it as an opportunity to get at least some insight in the works of those scientists. The part of applying those theories to Japan, a country I studied only for a short time and never have been to, can only be done with the consciousness of labeling it as a students try. Still I hope that some valid thoughts will come out of the following pages and I hopefully will have time to further this study in the future, as it really sounds interesting to me. It took me some time to find the right theme for this seminar work, as I wanted to write on Japanese society but didn’t want to cover the exact same things as Prof. Harold Kerbo did in his books „Modern Japanese Society“ (Kerbo/McKinstry 1997) [...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. INTRODUCTION
- 2. ELITE THEORY
- 2.1 Definition
- 2.2 Gaetano Mosca and Vilfredo Pareto
- 2.3 C. Wright Mills
- 2.4. G. Lowell Field and John Higley
- 3. SOCIAL STRATIFICATION IN JAPAN
- 3.1 The Ministry Elite
- 3.2 The Corporate Elite
- 3.3 The Political Elite
- 4. SOCIAL NETWORKS OF JAPANESE POWER ELITE
- 4.1. Tokyo law faculty and it's elite outcome
- 4.2. Social Clubs/Business Organizations
- 4.3. Family connections
- 5. THEORY
- 6. EXPLORING THE JAPANESE DEMOCRACY
- 7. CONCLUSION
- 8. REFERENCES
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work aims to explore the composition, functioning, and persistence of the Japanese elite. It examines elite theory through the lenses of notable scholars like Gaetano Mosca, Vilfredo Pareto, C. Wright Mills, and Harold D. Lasswell, applying their insights to the Japanese context. The study focuses on the "Iron Triangle" of the Political, Corporate, and Ministry elite, analyzing their interconnectedness and power structures. It seeks to understand how this elite maintains its position and the potential for change within the Japanese democratic system.
- Elite Theory and its Application to Japanese Society
- The Structure and Functioning of the Japanese Power Elite
- Social Networks and Connections that Sustain Elite Power
- The Role of Education, Social Clubs, and Family Ties
- Exploring the Dynamics of Japanese Democracy and its Relation to the Elite
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- 1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the topic of Japanese elites and outlines the study's goals. It presents the research questions and acknowledges the limitations of a student seminar-based work.
- 2. ELITE THEORY: This chapter defines key terms, such as "ruling elite" and "elite," and examines different perspectives on elite theory from prominent scholars like Gaetano Mosca, Vilfredo Pareto, and C. Wright Mills. It discusses the concept of a semi-elite and the role of economic superiority in elite formation.
- 3. SOCIAL STRATIFICATION IN JAPAN: This chapter provides an overview of the social stratification in Japan, focusing on the three main elite groups: the Ministry Elite, the Corporate Elite, and the Political Elite.
- 4. SOCIAL NETWORKS OF JAPANESE POWER ELITE: This chapter delves into the social networks that contribute to the elite's power and influence. It explores the importance of Tokyo law faculty, social clubs and business organizations, and family connections in maintaining elite status.
- 5. THEORY: This chapter applies the theoretical framework to the Japanese context, examining the factors that enable the elite to maintain their position and the implications for democracy in Japan.
- 6. EXPLORING THE JAPANESE DEMOCRACY: This chapter analyzes the Japanese democratic system in relation to the existing elite structure, considering its potential strengths and weaknesses.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work focuses on the nature of Japanese elites, exploring their composition, functioning, and persistence within the framework of elite theory. It examines the "Iron Triangle" of the Political, Corporate, and Ministry elite in Japan, analyzing their interconnectedness and power dynamics. Key themes include social stratification, social networks, family connections, education, social clubs, and business organizations. The study investigates the potential for social mobility and the implications for the Japanese democratic system.
- Quote paper
- Sabine Putzgruber (Author), 2003, Why do they rule Japan - The Nature of Japanese Elites, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/35765
