"Breaking the Iron Triangle". Contemporary Attempts on Reforming the Japanese Policy Making Process

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1. INTRODUCTION
• 2. THE IRON TRIANGLE
• 2.1 THE IRON TRIANGLE MODEL
• 2.2 ACTORS WITHIN THE IRON TRIANGLE
• 2.2.1 LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY
• 2.2.2 BUREAUCRACY
• 2.2.3 INDUSTRY
• 2.3 INTERLINKAGE BETWEEN THE ACTORS
• 2.3.1 BUREAUCRACY AND INDUSTRY
• 2.3.2 INDUSTRY AND THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY
• 2.3.3 THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND BUREAUCRACY
• 2.3.4 UNIVERSITY TIES
• 3. REFORMS UNDER KOIZUMI JUN'ICHIRO
• 3.1 INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
• 3.2 ENDURANCE OF THE CHANGES
• 4. REFORMS UNDER HATOYAMA YUKIO
• 4.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE REFORM
• 4.2 CHALLENGES
• 5. JUXTAPOSITION OF REFORM ATTEMPTS
• 5.1 SIMILARITIES
• 5.2 DIFFERENCES
• 5.3 EVALUATION
• 6. CONCLUSION

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This bachelor's thesis, "Breaking the Iron Triangle," delves into contemporary attempts to reform the Japanese policy-making process, specifically focusing on the period following the 1990s. The thesis examines the challenges and strategies employed by key actors, including the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the bureaucracy, and industry, in their efforts to break the grip of the "Iron Triangle" and create a more efficient and responsive system.

• The "Iron Triangle" model and its influence on Japanese policy-making
• The dynamics and interlinkage between the LDP, bureaucracy, and industry
• The reform efforts of Prime Ministers Koizumi Jun'ichiro and Hatoyama Yukio
• The similarities and differences in their approaches to reform
• An evaluation of the effectiveness and sustainability of these reform attempts.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 2 provides a detailed analysis of the Iron Triangle model, examining its origins, key actors, and the interconnected relationships between them. It delves into the historical development of this system, outlining the specific ways in which the LDP, bureaucracy, and industry have collaborated to shape policy outcomes.
• Chapter 3 examines the reform efforts of Koizumi Jun'ichiro, highlighting the key institutional changes he introduced and analyzing their impact on the Iron Triangle. It evaluates the degree to which these changes succeeded in breaking the established dynamics.
• Chapter 4 focuses on the reform attempts of Hatoyama Yukio, outlining his objectives and the challenges he faced in his endeavors to reshape the policy-making process. This chapter provides a comparative analysis of Hatoyama's approach to reform in relation to Koizumi's.
• Chapter 5 juxtaposes the reform attempts of both Prime Ministers, highlighting their similarities and differences. This chapter assesses the successes and limitations of each reform effort, providing insights into the complexities of enacting significant changes to the Japanese policy-making system.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The central themes and concepts explored in this thesis include the "Iron Triangle" model, Japanese policy-making, bureaucratic reform, political economy, and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The thesis examines the complex relationship between political power, bureaucratic structures, and industry interests, analyzing the challenges and strategies involved in reforming a long-standing system.