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Japan has been beset by long-lasting economic stagnation and a crisis known as the ‘lost 20 years’, which has persisted since the 1990s. During this time, the Japanese government and economic enterprises introduced several institutional and economic ’neoliberal’ reforms in an attempt to overcome the stagnation. Their reforms have been, in some respects, dysfunctional and achieved only a little economic growth. In reality, they have led to more crises – crises of democracy, the constitution, social security and so on. It seems that this tendency has been accelerated since the Fukushima catastrophe in 2011, and especially since the inauguration of the second cabinet led by ABE Shinzō.
In regards to the crisis of democracy, many scholars and journalists have noted the recent restriction and reduction of human rights in Japan. Some examples include: the diminution of press freedom, the government’s violation of the Constitution to pass new security laws, the new conspiracy act, the introduction of the ‘My Number’ system, praise for the old imperial educational edict by some cabinet members, the planned revision of the Constitution itself and so on. These are among many signs that Japanese society is changing and diverging from the world’s standards for the modern state.
The main topics of this seminar will be: 1) the ‘lost 20 years’ as background, 2) the political and economic reforms since the late 1990s, 3) the anti-poverty movement and the 2009 change of government, 4) identity politics, 5) the right wing grassroots movement by nippon kaigi and 6) the ABE government and the crises of the media, democracy and the constitution.
The reading list will be distributed at the session. |
