Liberal Democratic Party—Japan
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has dominated Japan's postwar politics. It was formed in 1955 when the Liberal and Democratic Parties combined. Despite its name, the LDP is a conservative party with strong ties to business. Except for a short period following World War II when the Japan Socialist Party organized a coalition government, the LDP held power until 1993, when it lost control of the lower house of the Diet, the national legislature, to a coalition of seven parties. But this setback was only temporary; the LDP regained control in 1996.
The LDP's philosophy has two key elements: a commitment to economic growth and the maintenance of good relations with the United States, including supporting the security alliance between the two countries. Under LDP leadership, Japan followed U.S. policy guidance during the Cold War. Aligning itself with the United States allowed Japan to prosper economically, but Cold-War antagonisms restricted commercial opportunities with the Soviet Union and especially with China.
The LDP has traditionally been divided into factions, usually five in number. These factions are made up of members of the Diet who are committed to following the leadership of a senior party leader. In return for their support, faction members can expect to receive substantial amounts of money from their leaders. Individual LDP Diet members use this money to maintain a local electoral organization and to do favors for constituents.
Factions govern the process whereby party leadership and important government posts are filled. Competition among factions has been intense. In fact, competition among LDP factions has been a more significant aspect of Japanese postwar politics than competition among parties has been. The leader of the most powerful faction plays an important role in the selection of the prime minister. Ministerial positions in the cabinet are allocated through a bargaining process on the basis of faction strength.
The LDP lost control of parliament in 1993, following a series of highly publicized scandals involving bribery and corruption charges against top officials in the party. The substantial weakening of the Japanese economy in the 1990s also contributed to the LDP's decline in popular support. But opposition parties had problems of their own and failed to form a cohesive alternative. The LDP regained control of the government following the 1996 election, but lacking a majority in parliament, it had to form a coalition. After the 2000 election, the LDP continued to rule through a coalition.
Further Reading
Hayes, Louis D. (2001) Introduction to Japanese Politics. 3d ed. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe.
Hrebenar, Ronald J. (2000) Japan's New Party System. 3d ed. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
This is the complete article, containing 428 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
