1. De impotente oppositie
‘We had socialism in this country but now it has disappeared’
(Minoru Makihara, president of the board of directors at Mitsubishi)

3. Uitgangspunten 1.5 party constellation: why?
Culture: absolute respect for authority
Internal conflicts in opposition
Emphasizing the wrong political themes
International politics

5. I. Oppositie door politieke partijen: Continuous struggle within the socialist party
Origin of socialist movement: ideological opposition
Left wing vs right wing
Meiji revolution or restoration?
Postwar: Cold War origin of further division
Division about Anpo
1960 new Anpo: JSP vs DSP

6. JSP: remote from reality
Lack of constructive opposition
US-Japan: militarism; com. Countries peaceful
Article 9 only focus
No attention for pollution, consumers and social welfare
Changes name in ‘Social Democratic Party of Japan’ 社会民主党
Doi Takako very popular
After 1993 in power under Murayama: major shift
accepts defense forces
Accept nuclear power stations

7. Doi vs Nakasone

8. Socialism today 6 seats in parliament: reasons for the decline
Scandals
Alternatives available
Lack of pragmatism and identity
Coalition with LDP

10. The Democratic Socialist Party of Japan 民主社会党
Created in 1960, existed up to 1994
For social welfare
Self-defense allowed
Cooperation with LDP accepted
Lack of support by powerful unions (only by moderate 同盟)
7% of electorate

11. 連合 unified moderate unions
Rengo created in 1987
Accepts corporate system
Wants dialogue with government
9.3 m members
Support for SPJ
1989 contributes to victory
1992 fails to win in elections
Coalition with LDP drives Rengo to DPJ

12. Lonely Communists Created in 1922 (oldest party in Japan)
Postwar success due to
Support by US
Only party opposed to prewar regime
Economic and social crisis after 1945
Elections 1949: 10%
War in Korea turning point: radicalization of the party
Political isolation = 1955: 2 mp

14. Communists divided JCP breaks ties with SU in 1964; in 1966 with China
JCP at end of 1960s chooses for opposition
Students choose violent protest and create Red Army of Japan
1974: JCP declares to abandon wish for revolution by labor
Claimed restitution of Koeril islands
JCP strongest at local level (1995 more elected officials than any other party)
Today: JCP tries too hard to adjust: no viable alternative for protest votes

15. Komeito: political infiltration by religion?
Link with Soka Gakkai who started poltical activity in 1955
Komeito created in 1964
1970 all links with Soka Gakkai broken
Very loyal electorate of 10%
Kanzaki: ‘cooperation with LDP in the interest of the nation; not a question of for or against LDP’

17. II. Deel 2: The people’s voice
: massive protest against Vietnam war and for return Okinawa
Massive mobilization against Iron Triangle and negative results
Minamata
Yokkaichi
Toyama
Niigata

18. The people’s voice 2 3000 environmental action groups members
School teachers (日教組)
First postwar generation
Housewives
Support of
Media
Local government
Opposition
courts

19. Successful civil action in environmental dispute
To avoid political action, government’s action to cope with pollution efficiently
Mimaikin 見舞金
Informal mediation
Formal mediation
Legislation
New environmental problems in 80s less successful
Golf-courses, ski-resorts and nuclear power-stations
Dissatisfaction with economic nationalism latent but decreasing collective action
Greenpeace in Japan?

20. The growth of civil society 市民社会
Shimin as a new concept to balance state (Iron Triangle)
Volunteers
NGOs
Local groups
New law in 1998 to facilitate creation of non profit organizations (received legal status)
However still financial differences with larger semi-official organizations
Government listens to NGOs?