Japan's Parliament
An Introduction

Originally published in 1974, this is a study of the Japanese Parliament, or Diet, seen at the time from one of two divergent perspectives.

Hans H. Baerwald (Author)

9780521134279, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 11 March 2010

168 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1 cm, 0.22 kg

This book was originally published in 1974. At the time of publication, the Japanese Parliament, or Diet, tended to be perceived from one of two widely divergent perspectives. On the one hand, it was made to appear as an institution operating according to parliamentary norms, as epitomised by the British model. On the other hand, it was denigrated as being nothing more than the setting for periodic scenes of violence. This introductory study was intended to provide a less stereotyped assessment of this national legislature. Some ten years went into the process of researching the subject. Extensive periods of residence in Japan allowed the author to observe the Diet in action, to interview (in Japanese) many of the members, their administrative assistants, the Diet's Secretariat, Japanese newsmen reporting the legislative process, and Japanese political scientists. Insofar as possible, a conscious effort was made to avoid American and European biases and to present the Diet as an institution operating within Japanese society.

Preface and acknowledgments
1. From Imperial Diet to National Diet
2. Parties, factions and the Diet
3. Innai Seido: the parliamentary system
4. Diet scenes and confrontations
5. A tentative assessment
An introductory bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: General & world history [HBG]