Political Corruption in Japan

In: International social science journal: ISSJ, Band 48, S. 395-405

Abstract

Examines the nature & evolution of corruption in Japanese politics & argues that the Liberal Democratic Party, 1955-1990, primarily determined the context of modern corruption in Japan. Despite early reductions in the frequency & extent of corruption, the election of the politically skilled Tanaka Kakuei (TK) in 1972 led to a new era of corruption: TK institutionalized & rationalized corruption while implementing a system that demanded money from businesses & special interest groups rather than accepting bribes in return for issue-specific influence. Although TK was implicated in various scandals & forced to resign, his system of kickbacks, favors, & influence allowed him to exercise a great deal of power through the mid-1980s. Further, this institutional corruption system remained dominant until a series of highly publicized scandals catalyzed political reform in the early 1990s. It is concluded that Japan is presently in a state of transition from a boss-patronage to a modern civic-culture-based system. 3 Tables, 2 Photographs, 7 References. Adapted from the source document.