Factional Politics in the Liberal Democratic Party: Explaining Change and Continuity in Japan's Economic Statecraft (Elements in Indo-Pacific Security)

Gigante, Michael J.; Wan, Ming

ISBN 10: 1009609009 / ISBN 13: 9781009609005

Published by Cambridge University Press, 2025

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 18404315974

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Factional Politics in the Liberal Democratic Party: Explaining Change and Continuity in Japan's Economic Statecraft (Elements in Indo-Pacific Security)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1009609009
• ISBN 13: 9781009609005
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

What explains change and continuity in Japan's economic statecraft? This Element examines the interplay between factional dynamics in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Japan's foreign policy through two cases: Japan's unprecedented decision to impose severe sanctions on Russia following its 2022 Ukraine invasion, and its decades-long ASEAN strategy amid political uncertainty and great power competition. The authors find that factional balance or the outsized influence of a large faction facilitates abrupt political-economic shifts, sustained until a similar dynamic triggers correction. Unlike most systems, Japan's intra-party politics do not lead to full leadership turnover, enabling factions to influence policy while empowering non-leadership members to drive change. This dual role strengthens barriers to change, embedding political inertia. Using factional membership data from 1961 to 2024, they argue that factions are a more systematic unit of analysis than political entrepreneurs in understanding the relationship between Japan's domestic politics and foreign policy decisions.