Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-68ccn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-11T17:43:59.649Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Bringing the Party Back In: How the DPJ Diminished Prospects for Japanese Agricultural Trade Liberalization under the TPP

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2014

AURELIA GEORGE MULGAN
AURELIA GEORGE MULGAN*
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academya.georgemulgan@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Changes to the institutional structure of trade policymaking are important to understanding why Japan remained largely on the sidelines of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP) negotiations in 2010-2012. The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) embarked on a series of changes to policymaking institutions, which initially empowered the prime minister and cabinet at the expense of pro-agriculture backbenchers in the ruling party. However, the potential for a breakthrough on farm trade substantially diminished as the institutional reforms were reversed, allowing political supporters of domestic farm interests once more to assert their voice and influence in trade policymaking. Tracing the process of DPJ government decision-making on the TPP reveals that ‘bringing the party back in’ was a major factor in preventing Japan's formally joining the TPP negotiations, despite the strong pro-TPP sentiments of DPJ prime ministers, thus limiting prospects for agricultural trade liberalization.

Type
Research Article
Information
Japanese Journal of Political Science , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , March 2014 , pp. 1 - 22
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Checkel, Jeffrey T. (2005), ‘It's the Process Stupid! Process Tracing in the Study of European and International Politics’, Working Paper No. 26, Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo, October.Google Scholar
Choi, Byung-il and Oh, Jennifer Sejin (2011), ‘Asymmetry in Japan and Korea's Agricultural Liberalization in FTA: Domestic Trade Governance Perspective’, The Pacific Review, 24 (5): 505–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Democratic Party of Japan (2009), ‘The Vision of Government in a Hatoyama Administration’, 2009 Change of Government, The Democratic Party of Japan's Platform for Government, Putting People's Lives First, http://www.dpj.or.jp/english/manifesto/manifesto2009.pdf.Google Scholar
Funabashi, Yōichi (2009), ‘Tokyo's Trials: Can the DPJ Change Japan’, Foreign Affairs, 88 (6): 106–17.Google Scholar
George, Alexander L. and Bennett, Andrew (2004), Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.Google Scholar
George Mulgan, Aurelia (2006), Power and Pork: A Japanese Political Life, Canberra: ANU E-Press.Google Scholar
George Mulgan, Aurelia (2008), ‘Japan's FTA Politics and the Problem of Agricultural Trade Liberalisation’, Australian Journal of International Affairs, 62 (2): 164–78.Google Scholar
George Mulgan, Aurelia (2011), ‘The Farm Lobby’, in Inoguchi, Takashi and Jain, Purnendra (eds.), Japanese Politics Today: From Karaoke to Kabuki Democracy, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 109–26.Google Scholar
Hayashi, Yuka (2010), ‘WSJ: Kan launches Japan free-trade push’, Nikkei.com, 8 November, http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/TNKS/Nni20101109D08NY811.htm.Google Scholar
Inoguchi, Takashi and Iwai, Tomoaki (1987), ‘Zoku Giin’ no Kenkyū: Jimintō Seiken o Gyūjiru Shuyakutachi [A Study of ‘Tribe Diet Members’ in the LDP: The Leaders Who Control the LDP Regime], Tokyo: Nihon Keizai Shimbunsha.Google Scholar
Ishikawa, Kazuo (2009), ‘“Seifu yotō no seisaku kettei shisutemu ‘kakushō seisaku kaigi’ shinsetsu Ozawa tsūtatsu” ni tsuite [On the “notice from Ozawa on the new establishment of the ‘ministry policy councils’, a policymaking system between the government and ruling party”]’, 19 September, http://blog.canpan.info/ishikawa/archive/471.Google Scholar
Kajiwara, Yasuhiro (2010), ‘Kokkai Hōkoku 2010 – Kajiwara Yasuhiro no katsudō o furikaette’ [‘Diet Report 2010 – Looking back on Kajiwara Yasuhiro's activities]’, http://www.kajiwarayasuhiro.jp/pg4.php?ID=45&page=1.Google Scholar
Keizai Renkei PT (2011), ‘Keizai Renkei PT teigen ~ APEC ni mukete ~ [‘Economic Partnership PT proposal ~ in preparation for APEC ~]’, 9 November, http://www.dpj.or.jp/download/5351.pdf.Google Scholar
Kingstone, Peter R. (1999), Crafting Coalitions for Reform: Business Preferences, Political Institutions, and Neoliberal Reform in Brazil, University Park, PA: Pennsylvania University Press.Google Scholar
Krauss, Ellis S. and Pekkanen, Robert (2011), The Rise and Fall of Japan's LDP: Political Party Organizations as Historical Institutions, Ithaca NY: Cornell University Press.Google Scholar
Mainichi Shinbun (2011), ‘Minshutō: Seichō ni kanjichō shoku, Jōjima dairi ga kanbukai e sanka’ [‘DPJ: Policy Research Council to have secretary general's influence, Acting Secretary General Jōjima to attend board meetings]’, 14 September: 5.Google Scholar
Mansfield, Edward D. and Milner, Helen V. (2010), ‘Regime Type, Veto Points, and Preferential Trading Arrangements’, Stanford Journal of International Law, 46 (219): 219–42.Google Scholar
Mansfield, Edward D., Milner, Helen V., and Rosendorff, Peter B. (2000), ‘Free to Trade: Democracies, Autocracies, and International Trade’, American Political Science Review, 94 (2): 305–20.Google Scholar
Maruyama, Susumu and Ogura, Yoshinori (2012), ‘TPP: Minshunai konmei, Shushō hōbei ji, sanka hyōmei dannen, Isogu sansei ha, hantai ha to mizo’ [‘TPP: DPJ in disarray, Prime Minister decides not to announce participation in TPP during US visit, Gap between advocates in a rush and opposing members’], Mainichi Shinbun, 20 April: 6.Google Scholar
Milner, Helen V. (1997), Interests, Institutions, and Information: Domestic Politics and International Relations, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Milner, Helen V. and Rosendorff, Peter B. (1997), ‘Democratic Politics and International Trade Negotiations: Elections and Divided Government as Constraints on Trade Liberalization’, The Journal of Conflict Resolution, 41 (1): 117–46.Google Scholar
Ministerial Committee on Comprehensive Economic Partnerships (2010), Basic Policy on Comprehensive Economic Partnerships, 6 November, http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/kan/topics/20101106basicpolicyepa.pdf.Google Scholar
Minshutō (2009), ‘Seifu yotō no seisaku kettei shisutemu “kakushō seisaku kaigi” o aratamete setsumei, Ozawa Kanjichō, Koshiishi Kanjichō Shokumu Daikō [Secretary-General Ozawa and Acting Secretary-General Representative Koshiishi explain the policymaking system between the government and ruling party, “ministry policy councils” once again]’, 12 October, http://www.dpj.or.jp/article/17082/ .Google Scholar
Minshutō (2010a), Seisaku Chōsakai no kino to kikō [The functions and structure of the DPJ Policy Research Council], 20 July, http://nk.jiho.jp/servlet/nk/release/pdf/1226497594818.Google Scholar
Minshutō (2010b), ‘TPP (Kan Taiheiyō Keizai Renkei Kyōtei) nado keizai renkei suishin ni tsuite tō no teigen o torimatomeru [[PT] puts together the party's proposal regarding the promotion of economic partnerships including the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership)]’, 4 November, http://www.dpj.or.jp/article/19187/.Google Scholar
Minshutō (2011a), ‘(Zennin yakuin ni kiku) Genba Kōichirō Seichō Kaichō, Kan seiken ka no seisaku giron o furikaette [(Hearing from former executives) PRC Chairman Kōichirō Genba looks back at policy debates under the Kan administration]’, 1 September, http://www.dpj.or.jp/article/100288/.Google Scholar
Minshutō (2011b), ‘Keizai renkei PT, teigen no torimatome o oete: Hachiro Yoshio PT Zachō [After putting together a proposal by the Economic Partnership PT Chairman Yoshio Hachiro (Video)]’, 2 December, http://www.dpj.or.jp/article/100548/ .Google Scholar
Minshutō (2011c), ‘Keizai Renkei PT teigen o Seichō yakuinkai ga ryōshō [The PRC executives’ meeting approves the Economic Partnership PT's proposal]’, 10 November, http://www.dpj.or.jp/article/100477/.Google Scholar
Minshutō (2011d), ‘Seisaku kettei no atarashii shikumi: Maehara Seiji, Minshutō Seisaku Chōsakaichō ni kiku [The new framework of policymaking: Listening to Maehara Seiji, Chairman of the DPJ Policy Research Council]’, 20 October, http://www.dpj.or.jp/article/100512.Google Scholar
Minshutō (2011e), ‘Zenin sanka no teinei na giron o mezasu shin seisaku kettei shisutemu: Maehara Seiji Seisaku Chōsakai Kaichō’ [‘The new policymaking system aims for careful discussions in which everybody participates: PRC Chairman Seiji Maehara], 25 October, http://www.dpj.or.jp/article/100421/ .Google Scholar
Miura, Hideyuki (2012), ‘Minshutō Seiken ni okeru Kokunai Seisaku Ishi Kettei Shisutemu – TPP o meguru Seisaku Katei o Kēsu to shite [The Domestic Policy-Making Process under the Democratic Party of Japan Government: The Case of the Policy Process Concerning the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement]’, Ajia Tōkyū, 18, March: 235–52.Google Scholar
Nōsei Undō Jyānaru (2011a), ‘“Gekiron ikkagetsu” Minshutō Keizai Renkei PT [‘“One month of heated debate” by the DPJ's Economic Partnership PT]’, 100, December: 13.Google Scholar
Nōsei Undō Jyānaru (2011b), ‘Noda Shushō ga TPP kyōgi iri hyōmei, Tamamushi iro ketchaku “enchōsen” ni, Seiken inochitori no kanōsei mo [Prime Minister Noda announces the start of consultations on the TPP, An ambiguous conclusion leads to an extended game, It might be become fatal for the administration]’, 100, December: 2.Google Scholar
Nōsei Undō Jyānaru (2012a), ‘JA gurūpu, TPP kōshō sanka hantai no undō hōshin kimaru, Senkyo nirami seiji taiō kyōka [The JA group decides on a policy for TPP negotiation participation opposition movement, They will strengthen political efforts with an eye to an election]’, 105, October: 2.Google Scholar
Nōsei Undō Jyānaru (2012b) ‘TPP kōshō sanka danko soshi de yōsei shūkai hiraku [An assembly aimed at taking a firm stand against participation in the TPP negotiations]’, 102, April: 6.Google Scholar
Nōsei Undō Jyānaru (2012c) ‘TPP kōshō sanka, shinchō ni handa o, Seifu ni senryaku motomeru, Minshutō Keizai Renkei PT’ [‘Make the judgement on TPP negotiation participation cautiously, The DPJ's Economic Partnership PT urges the government to have a strategy’], 105, October: 13.Google Scholar
Ozawa, Ichiro (1994), Blueprint for a New Japan: The Rethinking of a Nation, Tokyo: Kodansha International.Google Scholar
Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet, Speeches and Statements by Prime Minister (2011), Press Conference by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, 11 November, http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/noda/statement/201111/11kaiken_e.html.Google Scholar
Schneider, Ben Ross (2004), ‘Organizing Interests and Coalitions in the Politics of Market Reform in Latin America’, World Politics, 56 (3): 456–79.Google Scholar
Schoppa, Leonard J. (1991), ‘Zoku Power and LDP Power: A Case Study of the Zoku Role in Education Policy’, Journal of Japanese Studies, 17 (1): 79–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sugawara, Junichi (2010), Japan's Trade Policy at the Crossroads: the Hatoyama Administration's Agenda, Mizuho Research Paper 24, Tokyo, Mizuho Research Institute, March.Google Scholar
Takayasu, Kensuke (2009), ‘Kokka Senryaku Kyoku wa Nani o Subeki ka [What Should the National Strategy Bureau Do?]’, Daitenkan , Sekai extra edition , 799: 140–7.Google Scholar
Tatebayashi, Masahiko (2004) Giin Kōdō no Seiji Keizaigaku [The Logic of Legislators’ Activities: An Institutional Analysis of LDP Dominance in Japan], Tokyo: Yuhikaku.Google Scholar
Thacker, Strom (2000), Big Business, the State, and Free Trade: Constructing Coalitions in Mexico, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Tsusaka, Naoki (2012), ‘Minshu jizen shinsa, kinō sezu, Shōhizei de funkyū TPP no hidane [DPJ's preliminary review system not functioning, Complications over the consumption tax hike a source of conflict over the TPP]’, Asahi Shimbun, 3 May: 4.Google Scholar
Uetake, Koichi and Sueyoshi, Kotaro (2011), ‘Govt gives DPJ panel a nudge on TPP talks / Report suggests joining trade pact would have more pros than cons for most domestic industries’, Daily Yomiuri Online, 19 October, http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T111018005383.htm.Google Scholar
Yoshimatsu, Hidetaka (2007), ‘Japan's Quest for Free Trade Agreements: Constraints from Bureaucratic and Interest Group Politics’, in Pangestu, Mari and Song, Ligang (eds.), Japan's Future in East Asia and the Pacific: In Honour of Professor Peter Drysdale, Canberra: Asia Pacific Press.Google Scholar