Opposition Politics in Japan: Strategies Under a One-Party Dominant Regime (The Nissan Institute/Routledge Japanese Studies Series)

The Liberal Democratic Party in Japan remained in power continuously between 1955 and 1993. In this groundbreaking study of the dominance of the LDP in Japanese politics over the last forty years, Opposition Politics in Japan examines the challenges which were mounted against this regime and explores why they failed. The subjects covered include opportunities for a united opposition during the 1970s, ideological, organisational and electoral aspects of the opposition's lack of response to such opportunities and the causes of opposition fragmentation. The book also looks at attempts at coalition, the influence of the trade unions, the importance of organisational factors and the influence, if any, of the oppositions's Marxist tendencies. A highly original and thorough exploration of the issues, Opposition Politics in Japan is essential reading for all those interested in Japanese politics. "The Liberal Democratic Party remained in power continuously between 1955 and 1993. In this study of the dominance of the LDP in Japanese politics for four decades, Opposition Politics in Japan examines the challenges which were mounted against this regime, and explores why they failed."--BOOK JACKET One party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), remained in government for such a long period in Japan that the prospect of any alternation of power seemed, until very recently, unthinkable. Stephen Johnson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [195]-200) And Index.