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dengle
30th August 2009, 19:19
I know there are people living in Japan who may be able to answer this.

What is a "Liberal Democrat" in Japan compared to what we in the USA call a "Liberal Democrat". Here they are Marxists and socialists.

Is the new government expected to bring a push for more socialism in Japan? Will they move more towards what we here consider to the "right"?

jfkcotter
30th August 2009, 23:57
I know there are people living in Japan who may be able to answer this.

What is a "Liberal Democrat" in Japan compared to what we in the USA call a "Liberal Democrat". Here they are Marxists and socialists.

Is the new government expected to bring a push for more socialism in Japan? Will they move more towards what we here consider to the "right"?
The Liberal Democratic party is neither liberal nor democratic. Like all other parties it's a very loose collection of 8-10 small cliques who call themselves a political party. Japanese politics are only about money and how it's distributed. The current election is merely a card shuffle of who gets his photo taken as 'Prime Minister' Nothing else changes. If you really want to understand Japan I recommend 'The Enigma of Japanese Power: People and Politics in a Stateless Nation' by Karel Van Wolferen

http://www.amazon.com/Enigma-Japanese-Power-Politics-Stateless/dp/0679728023

Maro
31st August 2009, 01:14
In most countries outside of the UK and USA, "Liberal" is actually Conservative.

dengle
31st August 2009, 01:23
In most countries outside of the UK and USA, "Liberal" is actually Conservative.

That's what I was starting to think. Thanks for clearing that up.

Maro
31st August 2009, 02:15
No Worries ; )