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Japan: a Quarter Century After the Electoral Reform
 
PIIS032150750007656-3-1
DOI10.31857/S032150750007656-3
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Dmitry Streltsov 
Occupation: Head, Department of Afro-Asian Studies, MGIMO-University; Leading Research Fellow, Institute of Oriental Studies RAS
Affiliation:
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-University), The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences (IV RAS)
Address: Moscow, 76, Vernadskogo Prosp., Moscow 119454, Russian Federation
Journal nameAsia and Africa Today
EditionIssue 12
Pages41-48
Abstract

The paper addresses the problem of long-term consequences of the electoral reform in Japan held a quarter-century ago. The author tries to give an answer to the question, how the reform influenced the electoral behavior of the Japanese and the electoral strategies of political parties. The author insists that the mixed electoral system of Japan encourages less inner-party competition and strengthens the party-first principle in electoral politics. The electoral decision of the voter is influenced by subjective factors, namely, by the image of the party and its leaders formed in his head on the basis of mass media coverages, and also by his personal assessment of party programs and the election manifestos.

However, the substance of the inter-party rivalry, namely the struggle of party programs and slogans, attracts attention of a limited groups of voters. This is due to the fact that the deideologization of politics has led to marginalization of differences in the approaches of parties to the main problems of social life. For this reason, the political struggle is largely image-based: the parties are fighting for the most favorable image in the minds of the «median voters». At the same time, party brands are largely formed by the aggressive PR policy of parties, which are intensively using populist slogans, as well as attractive images of their leaders. 

Lowering share of «solid votes» and a gradual departure from the paternalistic type of consciousness contribute to growing skepticism of voters towards political parties, to their apolitism and absenteeism, which lead to a steadily low voter turnout.

Judging by the weak electoral results of the opposition, which is still going through a period of reorganization, in the recent elections, the Japanese voters are largely conservative and do not wish drastic changes. Obviously, electoral behavior in the future will strongly depend on the imagiological features of the political parties and their leaders, shaped by various media technologies.

KeywordsJapan, electoral reform, «floating voices», populism, electoral mobilization
Publication date13.12.2019
Number of characters33592
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