Democracy and the Party Movement in Prewar Japan

Democracy and the Party Movement in Prewar Japan offers a profound exploration of the rise and fall of democratic ideals in Japan prior to World War II. With a focus on the dynamics of Taisho democracy and its subsequent decline in the 1930s, this work delves into the complexities of Japan's political modernization. The book examines key facets of the democratization process, such as the tension between imported political institutions and Japan’s traditional socio-economic structure, the challenges of rapid societal change under a rigid constitutional framework, and the struggle for citizen participation in governance. It also addresses the broader question of why parliamentary democracy failed in Japan during this critical period, offering insights into both the unique aspects of Japanese modernization and universal challenges faced by late-developing societies.

This study situates Japan’s experience within a global context, highlighting the interplay between domestic political developments and international influences in shaping its trajectory. By analyzing Japan's political system through the lenses of modernization theory and historical analysis, the book uncovers the enduring legacies of prewar democracy and modernization that contributed to postwar democratic success under American guidance. Combining historical rigor with a reflection on contemporary relevance, Democracy and the Party Movement in Prewar Japan sheds light on the challenges of establishing democratic governance in transitional societies and the lessons these challenges hold for the broader global discourse on democracy.

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 1953.