http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/08/24/weekly-editorial-japanese-election/ Economics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asia and the Pacific Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:50:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/08/24/weekly-editorial-japanese-election/comment-page-1/#comment-53142 Dr Michael Vaughan Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:59:08 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=6658#comment-53142 Dr Funabashi outlines a number of potential difficulties and questions in the wake of a widely-anticipated Election win by the DPJ in the 30 August 2009 Poll. Essentially, he argues that Japan does not need two conservatively-oriented major political parties vying for the support of the same power base. The LDP, in desperation, has copied or modified a number of DPJ policies, hoping that voters (who want such policies) will turn to it, rather than the DPJ. Such political plagiarism will not benefit the LDP greatly as voters know that the DPJ is the true author of such popular measures and will vote accordingly. It must be remembered, though, that Japan is, at heart, a conservative polity that does not welcome sweeping or disruptive change. Understanding this factor, the DPJ is offering incremental change at an assimilable pace, thus not frightening voters who are totally disillusioned with the LDP. The DPJ may, therefore, win up to 320 seats. Dr Funabashi outlines a number of potential difficulties and questions in the wake of a widely-anticipated Election win by the DPJ in the 30 August 2009 Poll. Essentially, he argues that Japan does not need two conservatively-oriented major political parties vying for the support of the same power base. The LDP, in desperation, has copied or modified a number of DPJ policies, hoping that voters (who want such policies) will turn to it, rather than the DPJ. Such political plagiarism will not benefit the LDP greatly as voters know that the DPJ is the true author of such popular measures and will vote accordingly. It must be remembered, though, that Japan is, at heart, a conservative polity that does not welcome sweeping or disruptive change. Understanding this factor, the DPJ is offering incremental change at an assimilable pace, thus not frightening voters who are totally disillusioned with the LDP. The DPJ may, therefore, win up to 320 seats.

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