Book contents
- The Political Economy of the Abe Government and Abenomics Reforms
- The Political Economy of the Abe Government and Abenomics Reforms
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Political Context
- 2 Expansion of the Japanese Prime Minister’s Power and Transformation of Japanese Politics
- 3 Why Does the Abe Government’s Approval Rating Always Recover?
- 4 The LDP under Abe
- 5 The Third Arrow of Abenomics: Est. in 2013 – or 2007?
- Part III Macroeconomic Policy
- Part IV Third Arrow of Abenomics
- Part V Foreign Policy
- Index
- References
4 - The LDP under Abe
from Part II - Political Context
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2021
Book contents
- The Political Economy of the Abe Government and Abenomics Reforms
- The Political Economy of the Abe Government and Abenomics Reforms
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Political Context
- 2 Expansion of the Japanese Prime Minister’s Power and Transformation of Japanese Politics
- 3 Why Does the Abe Government’s Approval Rating Always Recover?
- 4 The LDP under Abe
- 5 The Third Arrow of Abenomics: Est. in 2013 – or 2007?
- Part III Macroeconomic Policy
- Part IV Third Arrow of Abenomics
- Part V Foreign Policy
- Index
- References
Summary
Since 2012, Shinzo Abe has become the most successful prime minister in LDP history. This chapter analyzes the secrets to his success. We find first that Abe did not win by increasing the LDP vote nor by proposing popular policies. The main reason for Abe’s success is opposition fragmentation. The failure of the DPJ during its three-year stint in power meant that the LDP was virtually guaranteed to win the 2012 election under any circumstance. He also employed legislative and media strategies that minimized the presence of his adversaries in news reporting. It was difficult for people to evaluate Abe critically, as dissent against him was tactically silenced. Abe maintained high cabinet support, but the main reason given for that support is the absence of an alternative. All of this suggests that the LDP predominance established by Abe will be harder for this successors to maintain.
Keywords
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2021
References
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