일본 정치문화와 정치부패 - 파벌,족 후원화를 중심으로 -

The Political Culture and Corruption of Politics in Japan - Focusing on the Interparty Factions, Lobbyist-politicians and Private Supporters' Associations

This article examines the collective political culture of Japan, applying Chie Nakae's theory of Japanese culture to the characters and behaviors of the interparty factions, lobbyist-politicians and private supporters' associations. Specifically, the structure of the political corruption of Japan, which has been determined by the political culture of the private supporters' associations, is investigated clearly in this article. Nakae presented a new frame-a vertical social structure and collectivism-for analyzing the social structure of Japan. The interparty factions have stronger power of unity than the party, outranked organization, due to their vertical, collective structure. This guarantees the continuity of factional politics. The lobbyist-politicians induce the initiative in framing a policy and their own profits through adoption of unanimous decision rule-a collective decision process. The private supporters' associations are based on emotional relations rather than rational relations. In the activities of private supporters' associations, direct personal contacts are very important in human relations, thus lots of political funds, such as donations in personal ceremonies of coming-of- age, marriage, funeral and ancestor memorial, are needed. This causes the political corruption. The problem of political corruption can be solved through establishment of a civil society, that is run rather individually than collectively. Based on correct information, individuals would recognize the problem of political corruption and strive to solve it. This can be made possible through opening of information to the public and its practical uses.