Political Science: India and Japan (Exam 2)

What are some reasons for the support of the Congress party?

helped win India's freedom, Nehru was widely revered, political machines meant that poor voted as landowners instructed, party had vague political ideology to create mass appeal, divided opposition parties

What are the divisive conflicts?

important divide is between left and right, as well as urban-rural and regional differences, female inequality, divergent religions

India's political culture is defined by what?

its hierarchy and complexity. two different castes: varna and jati. You vote and marry within your jati. While the caste system is undemocratic, it brings people into social groups, allowing politicians to target the disadvantaged. The jati has become more of a separation of difference than of hierarchy. The multitude of identities means tensions are never focused.

left vs right in Japan?

left: pro-Constitution, opposed military/political alliance w US right: somewhat anti-Constitution, (esp. Article 9), welcomed alliance

Explain basic Japanese govt as set up by the Americans

lower and upper house, PM elected by the Diet, PM and cabinet responsible to Diet, Supreme Court with judicial review

MITI=

ministry of international trade and economy- elite bureaucratic agency, tells private sector which industries will be necessary in future, industrial policy

What did Japan's electoral system change to?

mixed member majoritarian- voter gets TWO VOTES: 1 vote for candidate in SMD, one for candidate in regional PR bloc; amend campaign finance laws and subsidy system for political parties

Explain beginning of Indian National Congress.

moderate urban elites, few ties to the masses in rural areas until Gandhi. He made it a strong democratic organization with elected leaders. British gave opps. to form provincial goats and Congress in 1930s.****

What is Japan's conflicts over role and power of state?

no deep divides, fine with close relations between state and business

What role does the Indian president play in government?

non-executive, similar to England's monarch

Explain how a bill is passed under LDP.

normally starts in bureaucracy, then sent to PARC (public affairs research council) where committees debate/amend the draft bill, then to EXEC. COUNCIL (veteran party leaders)l CABINET for approval, then DIET, sent to full house, passes it

How can one explain the dramatic electoral shifts in Japan?

not truly instability, majority is partially manufactured, and fewer voters are attached to any political party

How has political regeneration served as a counter to severe conflict in India?

***

Indian Civil Service

started off as one of the most honest civil services under the British, changed incrementally, under Indira Gandhi became more corrupt and now have shortened bureaucratic positions *

What were some of the reasons for Japan's economic downturn?

--expected that real estate problems would continue to rise, Bank of Japan tried to fix it, collapsed; --firms became richer, didn't need govt, don't want to put resources into MITI supported projects --system became less innovative, interest in what worked in past --industrial policy is less easy and useful with new technologies

Describe the party and electoral shifts of Japan.

-After corruption in LDP in 1970s, several new parties formed, LDP lost majority. -LDP returned to power w an SDP coalition**** -Koizumi ignored patronage in cabinet appts., reformed postal service, pork barrel spending, bank, etc. -defeat of LDP by DPJ -DJP tried to govern, increase power of politicians, centralize govt, but had problems due to distance from bureaucracy, Disasters made them look inept

similarities between India and Japan?

-both had a dominant party system -both had fractioned opposition parties which made it easier for dominant party to prevail -dominant party became corrupt

important things to remember about the Japanese legislative system

-bureaucrats are involved from original idea to consolation to implementation -unless elected reps in the LDP like a bill, it will not reach the Diet -legislature is the LAST STAGE -interest groups have input at various points

Explain the EFFECTS of the (old) election system for the House of Representatives in Japan.

-encourages smaller parties because party can get candidate elected with no majority or even fair plurality -candidates have to compete against their own party (intraparty competition) -rural districts have more seats than are deserved, but LDP never reapportioned bc of strong rural support -elections are called by PM

Centrist party in India (Congress)?

-little ideology -sought votes from all groups, but representatives of groups had little influence -mainly depended on: reformist group around Nehru, urban middle class, and landowning groups of village level society

Dispelling myths about Japan economy?

-majority of Japanese actually work for small and medium enterprises - 'long term employment' is limited, but covers some employees until early 1960s -industrial policy- govt strategy to help some industries be more competitive and help econ. growth

Why is India a democracy?

1. British legacy- -British created railroads, telegraph, competent and honest civil service -believed in parl. style democracy 2. charisma -Gandhi (assassinated) and Nehru and descendants 3. Congress Party -dominant party for 3 decades -party of independence, national heroes -benefit from FPTP

What are 5 explanations for the 3rd wave?

1. Church made its peace w democracy, supported it after Hitler/Mussolini- led to Catholic countries becoming democratic. 2. many military regimes declined economically 3. external pressures (EU only allowed democracies) 4. snowballing- w/ decline of USSR, democracy seemed next natural system 5. global economic growth of 1960s

What are some of the lessons that Japan learned after Japan's economy grew so quickly in the 1980s, but then hit a deep recession?

1. Japan's problems are financial, and industry remains competitive, govt policies successful 2. industrial policy was successful, but became a failure. 3. system that created growth in 1980s cannot adjust to trends at the turn of the millenium

What are the limitations on the power of the Japanese prime minister?

1. collective leadership of the LDP 2. influence of bureaucracy 3. 'subgovernments' that form around PARC

What were the lessons learned from the political reform in Japan?

1. election system encouraged two party system with alternation in power 2. reforms didn't happen immediately because ppl had to learn how to use system to their best advantage 3. learned that changing electoral system cannot solve all problems

What are Japan's other political economy problems?

1. fastest aging population in the world-- econ. productivity will go down, low growth, jobs exported abroad, increase in health care cost, decline in education demand 2. largest public debt-- if it goes to global markets, could cause crisis

Explain India's conflict of violence.

1. insurrectionary violence+govt reaction --regional, linguistic, ethnic groups seeking separatism/autonomy + govt uses force and tries to draw militants into normal politics --leftist, class-based forces + strike political bargains 2. non-insurrectionary violence+govt reaction --social groups vs security forces 3. violence between social groups --castes/religious groups like Hindu v Muslim

What are the three stages of party systems in India?

1. one party dominance, 1947-1977 --split in party in 1969 --Indira declared state of emergency in 1975 ---ended w defeat of Indira Gandhi 2. competition for parl. majorities, 1977-1989 ---Congress vs Janata, Janata had poor alliances so Indira went back into office in 1980 3. huge difficulties in achieving parl. majorities, 1989-mid 2014 (BJP gained majority) ---hung Parl. became the norm ---most states have two party system

What are the 3 arrows of Abenomics?

1. quantitative easing- Bank of Japan protected other banks by letting them buy bonds-- reduce govt deficit 2. fiscal stimulus-- bill, disaster prevention and reconstruction, stimulate investment 3. structural reform- long term growth, joined trans-pacific partnership

Three issues, Modi: ****

1. trying to recentralize power years after power has flowed away from PM to other institutions 2. must decide how to deal with Hindu rightists- violent 3. has promised action to liberalize the economy and promote growth and create jobs- how to spend without creating high deficits

Explain the ethnic and religious divisions in Japan.

99% are Japanes, some Korean, 1-2% hamlet people; discrim. against immigrants and Koreans; many believe in both Buddhism and Shintoism

After Japan lost the war, who took control and what resulted?

American occupation led by Douglas MacArthur. He brought democracy, including land reform and women's rights. He and his staff wrote the constitution that Japan still uses.

Explain India's conflict of state and central govt.

Central govt can dismiss state govts and impose direct rule. It was originally to avoid chaos, but has been misused by both Indira Gandhi (1972) and her opposition (1977).

JSP?

Japan, blue and white collar workers

LDP?

Japan, conservative, capitalist, business owners and farmers

Explain the Indian government.

Lok Sobha, or House of the People, is elected by SNTV (single member constituency).* The largest party in Lok Sobha is invited by the (non executive) president to form the government. The Rajya Sabha is the Council of States. Together, these form Parliament. The government is headed by a prime minister, who is limited by a 5 year term or vote of no confidence. In the event of a vote of no confidence, president offers other parties chance to form a government or holds a national election. The Executive Branch consists of President and PM, the ministers and their ministries, as well as civil servants

Explain Indira Gandhi's role in the process of decay.

She was PM in 1966 and formed a split in the party. She centralized power in the party and government- even ministers received their orders from her. The courts found her guilty of irregularity in her election campaign, so she declared a state of emergency and for 19 months there was authoritarian rule (jailed opponents, censored press, etc.). She lost the national election in 1977, but then was re-elected.

Explain Japan's government.

The PM and cabinet are selected from the majority party in parl. Legislation is normally introduced by cabinet. The Parliament mainly functions as an arena for debate between government and opposition parties- man. party passes most legislation.

Explain some of the important events in Japanese history.

Tokugawa period- isolation from foreign influence 1853- US forced Japan to open ports Tokugawa shogun overthrown Meiji- economic and military modernization American occupation 1945-1952

advisory councils

attached to ministries, made of ppl from society like scholars, journalists, and former bureaucrats

What are the 'two themes' of Indian political institutions?

awakening and decay, but regeneration after decay

What caused the decline of the Congress Party?

awakening: -ppl realized that leaders should provide services in exchange for their votes, and voted ppl out -poor realized votes were secret -awakening made tensions stronger, Congress could not be vague anymore -decay of institutions and ossification (older, experienced politicians retired/died) -Indira Gandhi

Where do most ideas for legislation come from?

bureaucracy, higher national service, affiliated advisory councils

What kind of organizations do candidates need in Japan because of the single non-transferable vote system and intraparty competition?

candidate support organizations-- advertisement/campaigning is v limited, orgs. provide sports clubs and recreational activities, candidate maintains contact with voters

political regeneration

capacity to rebuild institutions and form political bargains

What characterized the American occupation of Japan?

democratization and demilitarization, new constitution with ppl as source of legitimacy, basic civil rights, new govt, women could vote Article 9: no military (reformed to no 'offensive' war) reformed to be more about *stability and remilitarization

Bases of Conflict in Japan?

ethnic and religious divisions, gender and socioeconomic divisions, conflict over role and power of state, ideologocial divisions

formal vs informal poli. institutions

f: parl. and state legislature inf: political parties

What led to the rise of the BJP in India?

fear of India losing its Hindu identity, religion and nationalism

Explain the gender.socioeconomic divisions in Japan?

female equality has never been a strong movement- male dominated. Abe supported more opportunities for women. Japan has more equally divided wealth/income than most major democracies.

voters in India?

groups decide how to vote, but make decisions freely. Votes from lower castes can change elections.

How are bureaucrats involved in the Japanese system?

original idea to consolation to implementation

Japan's govt can be described as a

parliamentary democracy with greater power to bureaucracy

subgovernment (JAPAN)

politicians of a PARC division, bureaucratic agency, and interest groups in policy area (can resist party leader) similar to US "iron triangle"

What happens in the event of a vote of no confidence for the Indian prime minister?

president offers other parties chance to form a government or holds a national election.

What are some bases of conflict in India?

religious/linguistic, violence (social/cultural base)

Civil Service in Japan?

selected because of ability to pass v difficult exam, best and brightest. Many stay in ministry for their career (around 30 yrs), once a member of their 'class' attains the highest post in the ministry, all who entered w him retire. Retired bureaucrats will often go into the private sector or politics.

Explain the election system for the House of Representatives in Japan.

single non transferable vote system with multimember districts, each person can vote for one candidate.

What are some of the non-wealth correlations for democracy?

spread of European culture, Protestant work ethic

Explain factions in Japan.

they are based on loyalty to candidate for PM, can't become PM unless leader of a faction