This seminar course provides an introduction to contemporary Japanese politics through focused weekly group discussion. It looks closely at the relationship between institutions (electoral systems, regulatory frameworks, administrative systems) and political actors such as politicians, political parties, bureaucracies and bureaucrats, business and civic groups, and citizens. The course will introduce students to some of the most important debates and issues in Japanese politics such as the emergence and evolution of conservative rule, the role of industrial policy in economic development, the relationship between bureaucrats and politicians, the legal system and politics, security policy and foreign relations, civil society and civic engagement, and state-interest group dynamics. The course will also address critical issues in contemporary Japanese politics such as demographic change, energy policy, the environment, natural disaster, constitutional revision, territorial and historical disputes in East Asia, women’s participation, and initiatives for economic revitalization. The course is run in seminar format and relies on active student participation.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Understand and analyse key processes, transformations, and themes in contemporary Japanese politics.
- Analyse and evaluate key scholarly debates on Japanese politics.
- Apply analytical reading skills through careful reading of relevant literature in the field of Japanese politics.
- Develop analytical writing skills in the field of Japanese politics through completion of written assessment tasks.
- Demonstrate and develop presentation and discussion skills in the field of Japanese politics through active participation in class debates and discussions.
Indicative Assessment
- Presentation: Readings (5) [LO 1,2,3,5]
- Presentation: Current issue in Japanese politics (5) [LO 1,2,3,5]
- Mid-term Essay (20) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Current issue in Japanese politics essay (20) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Final Exam (50) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The course consists of a weekly seminar based on student presentations and discussion as well as seven hours per week of independent preparation, including assigned readings and written assessment tasks.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Readings will be provided on Wattle.
Preliminary Reading
Yoichi Funabashi and Barack Kushner, eds. Examining Japan’s Lost Decades (London, New York.Routledge, 2015).
Louis D. Hayes. Political Systems of East Asia: China, Korea, and Japan (New York and London: M. E.
Sharpe, 2012)
Ronald J. Hrebenar and Akira Nakamura, eds. Party Politics in Japan: Political Chaos and Stalemate in the
Twenty-First Century (New York and London: Routledge, 2015)
Chalmers Johnson. MITI and the Japanese Miracle: The Growth of Industrial Policy, 1925-1975 (Stanford,
CA: Stanford University Press, 1982).
Jeff Kingston, ed. Critical Issues in Contemporary Japan (New York and London: Routledge, 2014)
T. J. Pempel. Regime Shift: Comparative Dynamics of the Japanese Political Economy, Cornell Studies in
Political Economy (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1998).
T. J. Pempel. "Between Pork and Productivity: The Collapse of the Liberal Democratic Party." Journal of
Japanese Studies (2010) no. 36 (2):227-254.
Frances M. Rosenbluth and Michael F. Thies. Japan Transformed: Political Change and Economic
Restructuring (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2010).
Jacob Schlesinger. Shadow Shoguns (Stanford University Press, 1999).
Leonard J. Schoppa, ed. The Evolution of Japan’s Party System: Politics and Policy in an Era of Institutional
Change (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2011).
J. A. A. Stockwin, Governing Japan: Divided Politics in a Resurgent Economy (Malden, Mass.: Blackwell
Pub., 2008)
Assumed Knowledge
No prior knowledge of Japanese politics is required
Majors
Minors
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $5820 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4273 | 20 Feb 2023 | 27 Feb 2023 | 31 Mar 2023 | 26 May 2023 | In-Person and Online | View |
