Yesterday's GRIPS Forum saw two Lower House of Representatives members from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) engage in a joint dialogue about their policy platforms, recent changes to DPJ's leadership and the upcoming general elections (before mid-September).
Personally, it was very interesting for me as I watched how the two Diet members presented their own views regarding several issues like decentralization, foreign policy, economic stimulus packages (consumption tax hikes, social security systems etc) amongst others. The background knowledge that I had gained from my Japanese politics class sure came in useful in allowing me to understand, albeit still at a very superficial and beginner level, the implications of changes in leadership, vested interests, the likes of amakudari, literally meaning 'descent from heaven' where ex-bureaucrats will get lucrative high ranking posts in the private sectors. Indeed, in defining Japanese politics, the informal organs that are able to exert influence, for eg. in the case of how Ozawa's resignation as the DPJ's President doesn't actually preclude him from controlling behind the scenes, forces us to really look at what is happening and the undercurrents that guide public policy in Japan. Due to the complex relationships existing between the ruling party Diet members, local governments and electorate (both the urban and rural mix), lobby groups and bureaucracy, the stakeholders of this entire system create a shifting mix of power and influence that is dynamic and of course, interesting to watch.
In this aspect, I think I am learning alot and I'm grateful for this opportunity. :) I'm looking forward to next week's discussion on Japanese national security, or more specifically, a discussion on the Japan-US alliance.
【 About the GRIPS Forum 】
Since its establishment in 1997, the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), as the only independent graduate school in Japan specializing in policy research, has promoted education and research on a wide range of policy issues. The GRIPS Forum series was launched in April 2008, where by utilizing our vast policy network, we aim to challenge and inform public debate and understanding by inviting leaders from various fields including government, academia and business, to deliver lectures on current policy concerns and contemporary topics of interest. The GRIPS Forum is held twice a month on Mondays during school terms at our campus in Roppongi, and welcomes the attendance of academics, students, and interested members of the public.
Refer to: http://www3.grips.ac.jp/~gripsforum/e/
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