The Post-war Roots of Japanese Political Malaise

This book presents an analysis of how political parties operated in Japan over the first four decades following the Second World War. It extends quite widely to discussion of the political system, the social and economic environment in which parties operated, internal party matters, especially factions, personal support groups, special interest groups, and the role of government bureaucracy. Overall, the book shows how precedents for the political system and for policy making were set in this important period, precedents which continue, and which have contributed significantly to the present conservative stance on many key issues.