This conference addresses recent developments in Japanese and German democracies. It asks in which ways new anti-globalist trends are affecting and possibly challenging the legitimacy of the democratic political systems in both countries. The aim of the conference is to analyze comparatively trends affecting the core dimensions of democratic legitimacy: political participation and access to political office, representation, transparency and political accountability. Through a dialogue between German and Japanese researchers, the panel strives to identify similarities and differences in political responses to challenges for democratic governance both at the elite level and in society.

Program

08.30 h            Registration

09.00 h            Welcome and Introduction
                        Friederike Bosse (JDZB)

                        Verena BLECHINGER-TALCOTT (FU Berlin)

09:15              Panel 1: Participation

                        Chair: Gabriele VOGT (Hamburg University)

                        Non-Voters, Dealigned Voters and the New Political Activism in Japan

                        Verena BLECHINGER-TALCOTT (FU Berlin)

                        The Erosion of People's Parties in Germany: Reasons and Consequences

                        Uwe JUN (Trier University)

10:30 h            Coffee break

10:45 h           Panel 2: Representation

                        Chair: Axel KLEIN (University Duisburg-Essen)

                        Representation of Women in Japanese Politics

                        Mari MIURA (Sophia University)

                        Social Inequality and Democratic Representation

                        Takashi KIBE (International Christian University)

                        Democracy and Representation in Germany

                        Dorothee De NÈVE (Gießen University)

12.15 h            Lunch

13:30 h          Panel 3: Democratic Legitimacy in Perspective

                       Chair: Verena BLECHINGER-TALCOTT (FU Berlin)

                       Democratic Accountability and Press Freedom in Japan

                       Koichi NAKANO (Sophia University)

                       Rethinking Japanese Democracy                 

                       J.A.A. STOCKWIN (Oxford University), Kweku AMPIAH (Leeds University)

15:00 h           Coffee break

16.00 h           Panel 4: Rise of New Right Parties and Populist Movements

                        Chair: David CHIAVACCI (University of Zurich)

                        Populism on the Rise in Japan: A case study of the Osaka Isshin no kai

                        Andreas EDER (FU Berlin)

                        Social Bots in Japan’s 2014 General Election

                        Fabian SCHAEFER (University of Erlangen-Nürnberg) 

                        The rise of extremist parties in Europe: The effect of mainstream party convergence

                        Heike KLÜVER (Humboldt University Berlin)

17:00 h            Final Roundtable: Challenges to Democratic Legitimacy in Japan and Germany

                        Chair: Verena BLECHINGER-TALCOTT

                        Participants: from speakers above

18:00 h            Buffet Reception

 

Please register with the JDZB by December 4 by using the Registration form on their homepage.