The Frustrations of Participatory Democracy

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Other Title
  • 参加型民主主義の蹉跌
  • 参加型民主主義の蹉跌--権威主義の変容と「勝手連」選挙のアンチノミー
  • サンカガタ ミンシュ シュギ ノ サテツ ケンイ シュギ ノ ヘンヨウ ト カッテレン センキョ ノ アンチノミー
  • 権威主義の変容と「勝手連」選挙のアンチノミー
  • A Look at Changes in the Authoritarianism and Antinomy of <i>Katteren</i>

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Abstract

While the political change that began with a referendum in Tokushima Prefecture was quite unusual, it can also be viewed as symbolic of one potential future for local politics in contemporary Japan. After the referendum had been passed, the citizens' movement (Katteren) came to exert a great influence on elections in Tokushima and new leaders, with the support of the movement, were born. But, in subsequent elections, the conservatives made a comeback and the leader of the citizens' movement was defeated.Why did this "Tokushima Revolution" fail so quickly? Why was the leader of the citizens' movement defeated?<br>　In this paper, the Tokushima mayoral election of 2004 will be considered and answers to the above questions will be clarified empirically, making use of a quantitative monograph utilizing newspaper articles, interviews, and survey data. The causes of the Katteren's defeat can be summarized as follows.<br>　(1) Antinomy within Katteren and antinomy between Katteren and other already existing non-conservatives became major barriers.<br>　(2) The conservatives' campaign strategy succeeded. The conservatives placed an emphasis on the issue of "administrative ability" while de-emphasizing the issue of the "citizens' movement. "<br>　 (3) Because a certain proportion of voters was allergic to the concept of a "citizens' movement," it was difficult for the leader's candidacy to gain widespread acceptance.<br>　(4) The "citizens' movement" was unable to win the support of nonpolitical voters.<br>　Making use of these results, local politics in contemporary Japan will then be discussed. Two primary characteristics of contemporary local politics are : 1) the end of conservative politics based on traditional authoritarianism and the emergence of achievement authoritarianism, and 2) the genesis difficulties suffered by an "alternative" participatory democracy.

Journal

  • SOSHIOROJI

    SOSHIOROJI 51 (2), 21-38,149, 2006

    SHAKAIGAKU KENKYUKAI

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