R. Dahl included postwar Japan in the category of "polyarchy" countries, but from the perspective of a Japanese person who has lived in Japan for a long time, appearances aside, the reality is a world that differs from a "polyarchy."
Dahl views the concept of "polyarchy" not as "democracy" itself, but as a tool for analyzing the process of approaching a real democratic system. Dahl argues that the establishment and maintenance of a "polyarchy" is influenced by many factors, including historical conditions, socioeconomic order, cultural factors, and the "convictions" of political activists. "Polyarchy" is a unique analytical concept and is distinct from the functional concept of "democracy." However, it is now also used as a measure of the stage of development of political democracy.
From the perspective of "democracy," Japan has fundamentally changed little since Karel van Wolferen published "Japan: The Enigma of Power Structures" (a time when revisionism was popular).
When Prime Minister Suga resigned (and handed over power) a few years ago, and the recent process leading to the birth of the Takaichi administration after "removing Ishiba" completely differed from Western-style "democracy." The same could be said of "the Nakasone Saitei (or adjudication, judgement, arbitration, ruling, decision...etc. It is a political phenomenon unique to LDP politics and cannot be translated into Western languages. According to Shintaro Ishihara's writings (comments published in a magazine about former Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita) written after Takeshita's death, it was discovered much later that money had been donated from Takeshita Noboru's side (successor Prime Minister) to Prime Minister Nakasone's side.) and the Shiina Saitei (Shiina Etsusaburo was the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time of the conclusion of the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea (the autobiography of the South Korean foreign minister, who was the South Korean counterpart, details the negotiation process for the treaty).). The same was true of Kanemaru Shin's sudden dismissal of Kaifu Toshiki (The then Prime Minister). The formation of the coalition government between the LDP, the Japan Socialist Party, and Sakigake Party (Murayama Administration) was a political collusion (Dangō) between the LDP and the left wing of the Socialist Party (The worst case of collusive politics leading to the worst prime minister).
In Japanese politics, such cases have been repeated endlessly to this day (I will not go into detail about these events here.).
Japan's ruling parties are still dominated by hereditary politicians based on individual constituency-based businesses (Kōenkai, or support groups), and are far from what Maurice Duverger and others would call "modern political parties."
The only parties in Japan that could be called "modern political party" are the Japan Communist Party and the Komeito Party, but both are unique ideological parties (or religious parties) that are incompatible with democracy and are constantly plagued by internal conflict.
Today, Japan's political party system has become what Giovanni Sartori calls a "polarized multi-party system," and is becoming increasingly unsound.
Post-independence India was considered a "polyarchy," but under the current Modi administration it has become something akin to an authoritarian regime. While economic development has been remarkable, political freedom for non-Hindus, freedom of the press and freedom of expression and others appears to be declining.
The Arab countries of the Middle East remain a mixture of medieval political life and a pseudo-advanced welfare state.
Central Asian countries remain in chaos.
Israel is difficult to assess.
The situation in Southeast Asian countries is also well known.
China and Russia are out of the question.
Of the vast Asian nations, only two states—Taiwan and South Korea—have developed "democracy," though this is still qualified as "Asian."
When Dahl published "Polyarchy," these two countries were not included in the list of "polyarchy" nations. South Korea had an authoritarian regime close to a military dictatorship, and its government changed following the assassination of its president. Taiwan continued to be under the dictatorial regime of Chiang Kai-shek and his son, Chiang Ching-kuo.
However, these two countries have now become a beacon of hope for democracy in Asia, setting an example of democracy for other Asian countries.
What does this mean? How should we understand this situation?
It seems pathetic to me, but at present, compared to Japan, South Korea is more advanced in developing practical democracy at the citizen level. I am not a supporter of either of South Korea's two major political parties, and have no vested interest in them, but it is certain that South Korea's active direct democratic citizen-level activities are generating political dynamism at the national level.
Like candlelight vigils, political egging is conducted as a form of political protest, not as a form of public participation in the public policy decision-making process, and therefore differs in character from Western-style participative democracy.
On the other hand, the protests are well-controlled. Participants throw nothing but eggs. They do not use Molotov cocktails or smoke bombs, nor do they pick up stones from their feet and throw them. They do not throw objects at people; rather, they throw raw eggs (purchased and prepared) all at once, toward the banner.
Although this method is a bit crude, participants influence the course of real national politics by sharing an opportunity for citizens to unite and express their opposition to the political situation, separate from the opportunity to vote in elections.
In this way, participants self-generate, enhance, and share political empowerment, a sense of political accomplishment, and political self-affirmation. This creates political dynamism.
Like the recent student demonstrations in Hong Kong, this direct action, in which active citizens express their solidarity and opposition to political injustice in public spaces, could be seen as similar to the Occupy movement in Europe and the United States.
Such direct action can be a driving force for the development of democracy.
It can currently be said that Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea are playing leading roles in democracy in Asia.
【South Korea】 Candlelight rallies have spread to the ruling Saenuri Party. Demonstrators are throwing eggs en masse. [12/05]
1: ★＠＼(^o^)／: 2016/12/05 (Mon) 20:16:00. ID:CAP_USER.net
http://www.chosunonline.com/site/data/img_dir/2016/12/05/2016120500635_0.jpg
http://www.chosunonline.com/site/data/img_dir/2016/12/05/2016120500635_1.jpg
On the afternoon of the 3rd, during the sixth candlelight rally calling for President Park Geun-hye's resignation, a banner hanging at the ruling Saenuri Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, reading, "Dear citizens, we are deeply sorry. We will resolve the national affairs as soon as possible," was hit with eggs thrown by demonstrators.
At a rally held in front of the Saenuri Party headquarters prior to the evening candlelight vigil, the moderator called out, "We cannot forgive the Saenuri Party for trying to vote against the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye," and demonstrators hurled eggs at them en masse.
Some of the demonstrators also performed a spectacle by ripping down an 8m x 15m banner that read, "Saenuri Party: Accomplice in Park Geun-hye's interference in state affairs." The candlelight vigils, which had previously been held around Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, have now turned their attention to the Saenuri Party as well, and have expanded to Yeouido.
Excerpt
http://www.chosunonline.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/12/05/2016120500677.html
http://www.chosunonline.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/12/05/2016120500677_2.html
No comments:
Post a Comment