Party in Power

Party in Power: The Japanese Liberal-Democrats and Policy-Making offers an in-depth exploration of the intricate decision-making processes within Japan's dominant postwar political entity, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Bridging the gap between political science and history, the book provides a nuanced analysis of how the LDP has shaped and responded to Japan's evolving political landscape. It underscores the LDP's unique ability to integrate the roles of bureaucracy, party factions, and policy-making councils, all within a framework influenced by Japan's broader cultural and historical context.

This study delves into the LDP's structure and behavior, particularly its mechanisms for handling controversial domestic and foreign policy issues. Through case studies and empirical analysis, the book examines the interplay of organizational frameworks, factional rivalries, and socio-political forces that drive the LDP's governance strategies. By drawing comparisons with Western political systems and utilizing data from party publications, interviews, and media sources, it situates the LDP as a pivotal force in Japan's parliamentary cabinet system. This work is an essential resource for scholars and students seeking to understand the complexity of political power and policy-making in Japan's modern democracy.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1970.