Corruption, leadership, and the limits of political reform in Japan

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges of Japanese political leadership in combating corruption with an emphasis on the 1970s and 1980s when Tanaka Kakuei and Miki Takeo led Japan. Design/methodology/approach – This paper discusses the perceived extent of corruption in Japa...

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Main Author: Matthew M. Carlson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Publishing 2022-08-01
Series:Public Administration and Policy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/PAP-01-2022-0004/full/pdf
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author Matthew M. Carlson
author_facet Matthew M. Carlson
author_sort Matthew M. Carlson
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description Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges of Japanese political leadership in combating corruption with an emphasis on the 1970s and 1980s when Tanaka Kakuei and Miki Takeo led Japan. Design/methodology/approach – This paper discusses the perceived extent of corruption in Japan, the importance of Japan’s gift-giving culture, and examines the efforts of Miki Takeo and the consequences of his political reforms for Japanese politics. Comparison is made with his predecessor, Tanaka Kakuei, to highlight the differences in combating corruption between both leaders. Findings – Compared to Tanaka Kakuei, who was highly corrupt, Miki Takeo left a mixed legacy. He managed to revise campaign finance laws but lacked the political will and support from his party. The reforms he implemented failed to reduce money in politics, but they favoured the opposition in the collection of funds. Originality/value – This paper will be useful to scholars and policy-makers interested in studying the role of leaders in curbing corruption and the challenges of political reform.
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spelling doaj.art-47a507178b3e46f5aa6be8c7a20ed2ff2023-07-04T10:21:35ZengEmerald PublishingPublic Administration and Policy1727-26452517-679X2022-08-0125212413510.1108/PAP-01-2022-0004Corruption, leadership, and the limits of political reform in JapanMatthew M. Carlson0University of Vermont, Burlington, USAPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges of Japanese political leadership in combating corruption with an emphasis on the 1970s and 1980s when Tanaka Kakuei and Miki Takeo led Japan. Design/methodology/approach – This paper discusses the perceived extent of corruption in Japan, the importance of Japan’s gift-giving culture, and examines the efforts of Miki Takeo and the consequences of his political reforms for Japanese politics. Comparison is made with his predecessor, Tanaka Kakuei, to highlight the differences in combating corruption between both leaders. Findings – Compared to Tanaka Kakuei, who was highly corrupt, Miki Takeo left a mixed legacy. He managed to revise campaign finance laws but lacked the political will and support from his party. The reforms he implemented failed to reduce money in politics, but they favoured the opposition in the collection of funds. Originality/value – This paper will be useful to scholars and policy-makers interested in studying the role of leaders in curbing corruption and the challenges of political reform.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/PAP-01-2022-0004/full/pdfCorruptionJapanLeadershipPrime MinistersLiberal Democratic PartyCultural values
spellingShingle Matthew M. Carlson
Corruption, leadership, and the limits of political reform in Japan
Public Administration and Policy
Corruption
Japan
Leadership
Prime Ministers
Liberal Democratic Party
Cultural values
title Corruption, leadership, and the limits of political reform in Japan
title_full Corruption, leadership, and the limits of political reform in Japan
title_fullStr Corruption, leadership, and the limits of political reform in Japan
title_full_unstemmed Corruption, leadership, and the limits of political reform in Japan
title_short Corruption, leadership, and the limits of political reform in Japan
title_sort corruption leadership and the limits of political reform in japan
topic Corruption
Japan
Leadership
Prime Ministers
Liberal Democratic Party
Cultural values
url https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/PAP-01-2022-0004/full/pdf
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