著者

山田 真裕

出版者

関西学院大学

雑誌

法と政治 (ISSN:02880709)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.48, no.1, pp.408-387, 1997-03

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The importance of koenkai organizations in electoral politics is well known in Japan. This article points out inadequacies in previous studies and proposes an analytical framework for the study of koenkai organizations and the political dynamics that surround these organizations. Previous studies have usually been plagued by two biases. One bias is the scope of the research. Previous studies have focused mainly on national and conservative politicians, even though local and liberal politicians also have own koenkais. The other bias is a lack of organizational perspective. Because of this lack of organizational perspective, previous studies have not been able to fully examine the dynamics of koenkais. It makes analyses tend to be static and explanations tend to be on the macro level or too culturalistic. Hence, a very stereotyped image of koenkais prevails. Consequently, few studies of longitudinal analysis have been conducted concerning koenkais, and we have not paid sufficient attention to the relationship between koenkais at different levels (national levels, local assemblies, governors, mayors, village chiefs, etc.). In this article, we claim that these inadequacies are the result of an absence of a systematic, analytical framework. In order to construct it, we utilize resource mobilization theories and political party organizational theories by Angelo Panebianco. Both sets of theories focus upon organizational dynamics and incentives. After brief explanation of these theories, we clarify analytical points at three levels : the micro level. the mezzo level. and the macro level. The micro level analysis focuses on intraorganizational politics within koenkais. At this level koenkais are regarded as a system; composition, inputs (resources), and outputs (activities) are analyzed. Mezzo level analysis focuses on the inter-organizational relationship that surrounds koenkais and local political power structures. At the macro level, we consider the implications of koenkai politics on national political regimes, the characteristics of political power, opportunity structure, and elite recruitment in Japan. By introducing this analytical framework, we hope to better comprehend the political dynamics of elections in Japan.