Japan Holds Elections, page 1

Koizumi, Japan's prime minister, has called elections. Koizumi has expelled uncompliant from his ruling Liberal Democratic Party(LDP), and he appears to wrestling for greater control.

www.guardian.co.uk
It sounds like mission impossible: Take the developed world's longest-ruling political party, one weighed down by a history of corruption, waste and patronage, and turn it into a symbol of dynamic change.

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The campaign has centered under privatizing Japan Post. While it might seem easy to compare this to western privatization plans, this may not be the case. In Japan, I believe the distinction between private and public is less clear.

Koizumi has also appeared to be supporter of a more agressive role for Japan. Along with a quiet military buildup, Japan has begun employing token armed forces, most notably to Iraq. Although, Japan posesses little military capability independent of US support. Does Koizumi have greater plans for a militarized Japan?

The whole situation in Japan seems quite complicated. Despite recessions and lackluster growth in many sectors, Japan has maintained a powerful economy. Underneath, veneers of democracy, there has often been little power associated with the prime minister, and other supposed top government officials. Real power has been held by top bureacrats along with leading private interests, and the Yakuza.

It is unclear how much Japanese citizens believe is at stake, or even how much is at stake. Does Japan's parliment really have the ability to rule the country?

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[edit on 27-9-2005 by DJDOHBOY]