The Afterlives of Post-War Japanese Prime Ministers

Dobson, Hugo; Rose, Caroline

doi:10.1080/00472336.2018.1460389

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(19 reference statements)

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“…While existing literature (Dobson and Rose, 2019) implies that foreign policy contributions may form an important element of FPMs’ focus particularly outside Parliament, we find by contrast that for the vast majority of FPMs, domestic policy is a much greater focus within the Commons. As Table 2 demonstrates, our FPMs speak for just one-third of the time (33%) on international issues.…”

Section: Parliamentary Activity By Fpmscontrasting

confidence: 91%

“…As Southall et al (2006) indicate, however, there are distinct institutional opportunities for former leaders -they note in the case of Africa, former Presidents tend to step away from institutional politics, whereas former Prime Ministers tend to remain more institutionally engaged. Many post-war Japanese prime ministers also continued to serve either in the upper or lower chambers -for example, Toshiki Kaifu, Prime Minister 1989-1991 served in the House of Representatives until 2009 (Dobson and Rose, 2019).…”

Section: Understanding Former Political Leadersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Discussions of many political legacies, though, focus on the role of foreign policy (see Daddow, 2013; Tiersky, 1995). Dobson and Rose’s (2019) work on Japanese former Prime Ministers shows that they often become special envoys. However, a more systematic understanding of the policy areas that attract FPMs needs to be advanced.…”

Section: Understanding Former Political Leadersmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

More than a memento mori? Assessing the participation of former Prime Ministers in the House of Commons

Middleton,

Thompson

2023

The British Journal of Politics and International Relations

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The successes and failures of political leaders and their rise and fall from power are well analysed by academic studies. The roles played by former leaders however are more obscure, particularly if they continue to maintain an institutional presence. This article explores the backbench behaviour of 12 former UK prime ministers following their departure from Downing Street. We find that contemporary former prime ministers display more diverse backbench behaviour in the House of Commons, are more focused on performing constituency representation in the chamber and engage in a form of statecraft focused on real time assessments of their successors. This is significant as it suggests that our traditional assumptions of post leadership careers may need reinterpreting. It also demonstrates an ongoing democratic benefit to the presence of former leaders within legislatures.

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Section: Parliamentary Activity By Fpmscontrasting

confidence: 91%

Section: Understanding Former Political Leadersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Understanding Former Political Leadersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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More than a memento mori? Assessing the participation of former Prime Ministers in the House of Commons

Middleton,

Thompson

2023

The British Journal of Politics and International Relations

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“…In a study of the political afterlife of Japanese prime ministers, researchers conclude that "political obituaries should never be written too early". 10 This is duly noted in the case of the Philippines. In 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte authorised the controversial reburial of former president Ferdinand Marcos in the national Heroes' Cemetery in the capital Manila, 27 years after his death in exile in Hawaii.…”

Section: Theories Of Political Transition and Commemorationmentioning

confidence: 96%

Dictators Never Die: Political Transition, Dynastic Regime Recovery and the 2021 Suharto Commemoration in Indonesia

Tyson¹,

Nawawi²

2022

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Political transition theory has clear indicators for successful democratisation such as the two turnover test in elections, rule of law, press freedom, and institutional reform. The distinction between system change and regime change however remains ambiguous. After rapid political transitions from authoritarian to democratic systems, old guard elites seek to recapture power and protect their wealth in countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines. The authors characterise this as a process of dynastic regime recovery, with elite networks seeking to control discursive spaces as part of a broader strategy to regain political power and legitimacy.Political distortions persist in rapid transitions to democracy, and this article examines the ways in which interlocking elites from the Suharto era strategically adapt to Indonesia's competitive multi-party system. The authors gathered data from 21 interviews with the Suharto family and their associates, as well as observations from an exclusive commemoration event celebrating the centenary of Suharto's birth in June 2021. The centenary is a network-led revanchist effort to promote a positive narrative about Suharto's presidency, as a constituent part of a complex regime recovery strategy. The 2022 election of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr in the Philippines indicates that there are opportunities for the rehabilitation of formerly discredited political dynasties. The recovery of the Suharto family legacy, business networks and political party coalitions has yet to ensure institutional recapture or electoral victory, but it is too soon to write a definitive political obituary.

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“…Although the structural resources, operating context and personal style all interact with each other in office, this article is primarily concerned with the impact of individual agency on our understanding of the contemporary prime minister. In contrast to the Japanese prime minister, who has traditionally been viewed as a consensus builder and a weak leader constrained by institutional pressures, the UK prime minister has been able to impose a personal imprint on the role (Envall, 2008, 2011; George Mulgan, 2000; Uchiyama, 2010). This narrative shifted somewhat as scholarly and popular attention focused upon the differences between Abe 1.0 and Abe 2.0, particularly in terms of the ‘strengthened executive position of the prime minister and Japan’s more proactive role in the world’ (Dobson and Rose, 2019: 127; see also Burrett, 2017; Shinoda, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The contemporary UK prime minister. When the personal becomes political: Agency, character, personality and celebrity

Bennister

2022

Asian Journal of Comparative Politics

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Alongside the focus on prime ministers within an institutional setting, it is important to recognise the significance of individual skills, styles and personality. Differing individuals will have differing performative skill levels and different leadership styles. The premise that leadership analysis should focus on the interaction between the political skills of the leader and the institutional environment in which they are operating is one that has gained some traction in contemporary political leadership scholarship. This article concentrates on the impact of the individual on the office, considering first the agent-centred approaches to prime ministerial study and applying the interactive model of leadership capital to the contemporary UK premiership, drawing some comparisons with Japan. Focusing on the three components of leadership capital – skills, relations and reputation of the individual in office – can give us a broader picture of the trajectory of prime ministerial leadership. Individual action, perceptions of the incumbent, decision making and style can all impact on the prime minister in office in the 21st century.

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The Afterlives of Post-War Japanese Prime Ministers

Cited by 6 publications

References 34 publications

More than a memento mori? Assessing the participation of former Prime Ministers in the House of Commons

More than a memento mori? Assessing the participation of former Prime Ministers in the House of Commons

Dictators Never Die: Political Transition, Dynastic Regime Recovery and the 2021 Suharto Commemoration in Indonesia

The contemporary UK prime minister. When the personal becomes political: Agency, character, personality and celebrity

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