Party systems of Japan

Auelgazina T.

The doctor of political sciences, the professor of chair «Political science and socio-economic disciplines» department Institute of magistracy and PhD doctoral studies of the Kazakh national pedagogical university named after Abay

The Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty

Party systems of Japan and Sweden represent a vivid example of a multi-party system with dominating party where many long years in political life of a society one party (see 1.2) dominated. In Japan 54 years Liberally-democratic party of Japan was in power.

Systems with dominating party (SDP0) differ from one-party systems, that various political parties exist here, but they never receive enough voices on elections to be in power.

In SDP there are equal conditions for all parties. The leading position of one party in a society is provided not by an interdiction of all of the others (as at one-party system), in the result of the course, reflecting, the desire of a prevailing part of society and giving stability to this society.

Though opposition parties also are resolved by the legislation, they are too weak or inefficient for power deduction. Unlike the one-party systems, often being authoritative, systems with dominating party can arise in democratic system too. Systems with dominating party often are exposed to criticism as corruption and tolerance to public requirements considerably increase in conditions of absence of active opposition.

Liberal-democratic party of Japan (LDPJ) has been formed in its modern position on November 15, 1955 by merge of two conservative parties – liberal (dziuto) and democratic (minsuto). These were at that time the opposition parties supported by the Government of the USA, decided to unite the forces against popular Japanese socialist party.

The appearance history dziuto and minsuto originates to 1870, by the time of formation of the first parties. In second half of 70^th and 80^th years of XIX-th century in Japan the movement for the Constitution was developed. This movement was headed also by two political parties: dziuto-liberal and kaisiito-party of reforms.

Again formed party of liberal democrats has won at once the following elections in 1956 and since then up to 2008 was almost stretch dominating party of Japan.

LDPJ has no accurate political ideology though it is considered as conservative. It covers a wide variety of directions and ideas in internal and the foreign policy, put into practice with purely pragmatic and corporate approach, as distinguishes LDPJ from "omnivorous" parties. Liberal Democrats traditionally use strong support in countryside.

According to M.Djuverzhe's typology, LDPJ is mass party (see 2.1). Membership in LDPJ is fixed, however the party joining has formal character.

The party supreme body is annual congress. Elections of the new chairman there is every time as the Prime minister changes. Usually the post of the Prime minister and the chairman of the party occupies by one and the same person.

Deputies of Parliament in party use exclusive position: the decision of deputy fraction is practically equated to the decision of congress [30].

All economic successes of modern Japan have been reached by ruling of liberal democrats. Providing a country stable development, SDP taking into account presence of others, except prevailing party, political forces, is capable to make government deal correction in the case that this course starts to disperse from sights and expectations of the majority of citizens.

However in 1993 in connection with financial scandals of 1990th years hegemony of liberally-democratic party go wrong, there was a split in it. Two parties – Shinsejto (Japanese party of updating or revival) and Shinto Sakigake (New party-portent) were as a result formed, and LDPJ has been forced out from the power by the opponents. It managed to achieve again the power – in 1994, having entered «the big union» with Social-democratic party of Japan, but up to 2008 liberal democrats practically had no enough of voices for formation of the one-party Government and have been compelled to enter a coalition with other parliamentary parties.

In September, 2007 the society hasn't supported a course of the Prime minister of liberal democrat Sindzo Abe on restoration of imperial greatness of Japan. And though LDPJ has kept the majority in the House of Representatives that has allowed it to spend after resignation of Abe on a post of the Prime minister the member of party Taro Aso, as a whole on elections in the upper chamber – Council was necessary to concede to ruling block LDPJ and party «New Komejto» oppositions led by Democratic party of Japan [30].

And on last parliamentary elections which have passed on August, 8th, 2009, LDPJ has suffered shattering defeat. The Democratic party of Japan has come to the power. It means that changes were necessary for a society. Besides world financial crisis at which preservation in a stability society is necessary, also has pushed the electorate supporting LDPJ, to vote for democrats.

Now there is a question: whether the system with dominating party in Japan will remain? How will the partioma develop further? There are some variants of this process.

The first variant: if Democratic party will be in power for a long time then the system with dominating party will remain in Japan, that is there will be a change of the most dominating party. This variant is possible if to consider that SDP is remained in the country long time, and the public consciousness used to ruling of one party.

The second variant: if LDPJ will gain the victory soon (in two-three electoral cycles), and the Democratic party will leave in opposition, and then alternation of these parties in power will begin, the two-party system can be generated in Japan.

But in this case variations are possible. If each of parties types absolute number of places in Parliament there will be a classical variant be party. However otherwise the party of the relative majority will be compelled to search the ally on a party coalition that will lead to such type of two-party membership, as system «two and a half parties». In this case the role of balancing force for LDPJ will be played by New Komeito or Social-democratic party for DPJ. Also it is the third variant.

I tend to last variant because in Japan constructive opposition LDPJ in the name of Democratic party which will conduct further rigid race for power was generated more. On the other hand, LDPJ long time was the party in power, and it is simple won't give up. It means that the basic struggle for votes will be between these two parties. But support of balancing force (the third party), most likely, will be necessary for formation of the Government of the won party. That, since 1993, in Japan there was no one-party Government testifies to it.