
Local Power in the Japanese State
Michio Muramatsu(Author)
University of California Press
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 28. May 2021
Book
Paperback/Softback
209 pages
978-0-520-31577-8 (ISBN)
Description
Local Power in the Japanese State offers a comprehensive examination of the evolution of local government and central-local relations in Japan during a pivotal era of political and administrative change. Originally published in Japanese in 1988, the book contextualizes Japan's governance dynamics through the lens of historical, political, and socio-economic transformations, particularly during the post-war period. It traces how local government systems adapted to rapid industrialization, urbanization, and increasing interdependence between central and local authorities, culminating in significant legislative developments such as the Decentralization Law of 1995. The text provides insights into the tug-of-war between central control and local autonomy, analyzing how these forces shaped the governance landscape in Japan.
The book delves into various theoretical models of local governance, including integrationist frameworks influenced by European systems and the gradual incorporation of separationist elements introduced during the U.S. occupation. It explores how political competition, administrative reforms, and the democratization of local leadership-such as the popular election of governors-fostered a nuanced evolution of local autonomy. By focusing on case studies and firsthand interviews with prefectural leaders, the book reveals the intricate interplay of vertical administrative control and horizontal political competition. Ultimately, Local Power in the Japanese State underscores the resilience of local governance structures amid centralizing pressures, providing a critical perspective on the balance between self-management and central oversight in modern Japan.
This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1988.
The book delves into various theoretical models of local governance, including integrationist frameworks influenced by European systems and the gradual incorporation of separationist elements introduced during the U.S. occupation. It explores how political competition, administrative reforms, and the democratization of local leadership-such as the popular election of governors-fostered a nuanced evolution of local autonomy. By focusing on case studies and firsthand interviews with prefectural leaders, the book reveals the intricate interplay of vertical administrative control and horizontal political competition. Ultimately, Local Power in the Japanese State underscores the resilience of local governance structures amid centralizing pressures, providing a critical perspective on the balance between self-management and central oversight in modern Japan.
This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1988.
More details
Edition
First Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Berkerley
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
5 figs., 32 tables
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight
313 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-520-31577-8 (9780520315778)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Michio Muramatsu
Local Power in the Japanese State
E-Book
04/2023
1st Edition
Naval Institute Press
€23.49
Available for download