Suchergebnisse

The term "construction state" has been used, to refer to a system of vested interests in construction activities that embraced Japan at different geographical levels of scale. A system of collusion between politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen evolved and led to massive government spending on public works projects. Its pace and scope have resulted in fiscal crisis and environmental devastation and have aroused the opposition of local residents. This paper will analyze the construction-related networks of relationships of the central actors in the so-called "iron triangle" ofpolitics, bureaucracy and construction business, and its influence on regional development. We shall theorize that sustainability will remain an unattainable ideal in regional development as long as the stability of the "construction state" is preserved by certain formal and informal elements in Japan's politicoeconomic system. These elements, however, have until now remained comparatively stable, despite of some reform initiatives.

In the aftermath of the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, an estimated 150,000 residents of Fukushima Prefecture were displaced because of both real and perceived risks of radioactive contamination. While previous research has provided ample insight into the causes and effects of the disaster, there is a lack of analysis of the production of visual representations of radiation risk. This article aims to fill this gap by exploring the question of what different cartographic representations of the types and levels of radioactive radiation are available; what information is released and how people get informed; how certain areas are considered 'safe'; and how arbitrarily government organizations draw and remove spatial boundaries of 'safe areas'. Due to the particular concern of children, who have a comparatively low-threshold radiation tolerance, the focus is on child care facilities and elementary schools. The article identifies different sources of public mistrust in the context of information seeking and sharing and addresses this issue as part of the larger question of institutionalized information processes in Japan. This also includes a prudent assessment of the increasing importance of citizen science in Japan, a society of traditionally technocratic, paternalistic, top-down approaches to public policy making. The paper concludes that because of the growing mistrust of the general public in Japan's elites, civic engagement should focus on gaining more influence on the political discourse, agenda-setting and collaborative planning and policy.

For much of the 20th century, economic growth was fueled by cheap oil-based energy supply. Due to increasing resource constraints, however, the political and strategic importance of oil has become a significant part of energy and foreign policy making in East and Southeast Asian countries. In Japan, the rise of China's economic and military power is a source of considerable concern. To enhance energy security, the Japanese government has recently amended its energy regulatory framework, which reveals high political awareness of risks resulting from the looming key resources shortage and competition over access. An essential understanding that national energy security is a politically and economically sensitive area with a clear international dimension affecting everyday life is critical in shaping a nation's energy future.

Globally, there are currently 443 nuclear reactors in operation, their share of electricity generation is 14 percent. In Japan, 55 nuclear reactors meet 29 percent of its electricity needs. Unlike Germany, the nuclear industry in Japan has enjoyed unified political support. Japan has relatively low abundance of indigenous energy resources, and most power is covered by imports. Adapted from the source document.

Die reformorientierte Regierung von Ministerpräsident Koizumi hat ihren Amtsantritt im April 2001 mit der Ankündigung verbunden, einschneidende Kürzungen bei den Investitionen für öffentliche Arbeiten vorzunehmen. Dies trifft die Bauwirtschaft um so härter, als den Gebietskörperschaften als Auftraggeber öffentlicher Bauvorhaben traditionell eine besonders große Bedeutung zukommt. Die Branche gilt aufgrund dessen zugleich auch als Inbegriff der viel und kontrovers diskutierten "Japan AG". Deren Funktionsweise basiert insbesondere auf dem so genannten "Eisernen Dreieck" Japans: dem engen informellen Zusammenspiel der Schlüsselakteure in Politik, Ministerialbürokratie und Privatwirtschaft. Bei oberflächlicher Betrachtung erscheint die Stabilität des "Eisernen Dreiecks" angesichts der unbewältigten Wirtschaftskrise und diverser Reformmaßnahmen in zunehmendem Maße brüchig. Aufgrund des immer noch großzügig fließenden Schmieröls öffentlicher Gelder erweist es sich de facto jedoch im Hinblick auf die Bauwirtschaft, so lautet die hier vertretene These, als ausgesprochen vital. Der Beitrag analysiert vor diesem Hintergrund die wesentlichen wirtschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen des japanischen Baumarktes sowie die Macht- und Einflussstrukturen der Schlüsselakteure. Anschließend werden mit Blick auf aktuelle politische und sektorspezifische Reformvorhaben die künftigen Perspektiven der bauwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung Japans diskutiert. (DÜI-Jos)

Examines evolution and crisis of the Japanese construction industry and implications of the "iron triangle" model; 1970-2001.