Nikkeiren and Japanese Capitalism (Sheffield Centre for Japanesestudies Routledgecurzon)

This book provides a history of Nikkeiren (the Japanese Federation of Managers' Organisations) and an account of post-war capitalist development in Japan. The author challenges the principal interpretations of how the economy functions revealing a darker side of Japanese capitalism in his examination of the roles played by class power, manipulation and mystification. From its formation in 1948 to its merger with Keidanren in 2002, this work provides a comprehensive history of Nikkeiren. Using the different periods of postwar Japanese capitalism as a context, the author carefully traces the history of Nikkeiren. Up until 1960 the association led Japanese employers in the campaign to win back "the right to manage", which had been lost in the chaotic aftermath of Japan's defeat in World War II. Nikkeiren achieved this by forging solidarity between employers in order to win a succession of bitterly fought labour disputes where the objective was not merely to defeat but to annihilate militant unions. Subsequently, Nikkeiren switched its emphasis to manipulation of the workforce and to a mutually advantageous trade-off with the leaders of increasingly enterprise-orientated unions. The group also put a great amount of effort into generating a mystifying ideology. Largely based on Japanese sources, this is the first comprehensive study of Nikkeiren to appear in English "This book provides a comprehensive history of Nikkeiren - the Japan Federation of Employers' Associations - from its formation in 1948 to its merger with Keidanren in 2002. Nikkeiren's role within Japanese capitalism is explored, both in its early days as a union-busting organ of class power and in its later mode, where it more often resorted to manipulation and mystification." "Largely based on Japanese sources, this is the first comprehensive study of Nikkeiren to appear in English. In addition to providing a detailed empirical account of Nikkeiren's organization and activity, this book throws light on the nature and function of class power, the inherent tendency of unions to collaborate with capitalist institutions and the limitations of capitalism as a mode of production. As a result, Crump suggests that coercive class power, manipulation and mystification are not confined to Japan, but are inevitable features of capitalism everywhere."--BOOK JACKET Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Acknowledgements......Page 12 The nature of Japanese capitalism: perceptions and reality......Page 14 Japan's bosses in 1945: knocked down but not knocked out......Page 26 We're all workers now: ideological and organizational defence (1945 7)......Page 38 Counter-attack: teaching the workers who is boss (1948 60)......Page 49 Simultaneously applying the accelerator and the brake: high speed growth and the attempt to rein in wages (1961 73)......Page 91 Seizing the opportunity: turning the oil shock to the bosses' advantage (1974 80)......Page 113 No room for doubt: Japan in a class of its own (1981 91)......Page 131 Economic downturn and its consequences: labour quiescence and Nikkeiren's extinction (1992 2002)......Page 150 Conclusions: Nikkeiren and Japanese capitalism......Page 170 Select bibliography......Page 180 Index......Page 188 Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 Acknowledgements 12 The nature of Japanese capitalism: perceptions and reality 14 Japan's bosses in 1945: knocked down but not knocked out 26 We're all workers now: ideological and organizational defence (1945 7) 38 Counter-attack: teaching the workers who is boss (1948 60) 49 Simultaneously applying the accelerator and the brake: high speed growth and the attempt to rein in wages (1961 73) 91 Seizing the opportunity: turning the oil shock to the bosses' advantage (1974 80) 113 No room for doubt: Japan in a class of its own (1981 91) 131 Economic downturn and its consequences: labour quiescence and Nikkeiren's extinction (1992 2002) 150 Conclusions: Nikkeiren and Japanese capitalism 170 Select bibliography 180 Index 188 Interdisciplinary Studies In addition to providing a detailed empirical account of Nikkeiren's organization and activity, this book throws light on the nature and function of class power, the inherent tendency of unions to collaborate with capitalist institutions and the limitations of capitalism as a mode of production. As a result, Crump suggests that coercive class power, manipulation and mystification are not comfined to Japan, but are inevitable features of capitalism everywhere John Crump. Series Numbering From Publisher's List In Later Volume. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [167]-173) And Index.