Liberalism in Japan

Encyclopedia : L : LI : LIB : Liberalism in Japan

The Liberalism series,
part of the Politics series
Development
History of liberal thought
Contributions to liberal theory
Schools
Classical liberalism
Cultural liberalism
Economic liberalism
Libertarianism
Neoliberalism
Ordoliberalism
Paleoliberalism
Radicalism
Social liberalism
Regional trends
Liberalism worldwide
American liberalism
Liberalism in Europe
Liberalism in Canada
Ideas
Freedom
Rights
Liberal democracy
Open society
Negative & positive Liberty
Individualism
Free market
Mixed economy
Organizations
Liberal parties worldwide
Liberal International
ELDR/ALDE
CALD · ALN · Relial

This box: [ view] • [ talk] • [ edit]

This article gives an overview of liberalism in Japan. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.

Contents

1 Introduction
2 The timeline

2.1 From Public Society of Patriots until Constitutional Politics Party
2.2 From Constitutional Progressive Party to Reform Club
2.3 From Constitutional Friendship Association to Constitutional People's Party
2.4 Political Friends Center Party
2.5 From Renewal Party to Liberal Party (1993)
2.6 New Party Harbinger
2.7 Democratic Party of Japan

3 Liberal leaders
4 References
5 See also

Introduction

In reaction to traditional society a liberal current is formed in the nineteenth century. In the twentieth century 'liberal' became gradually a synomym for conservative and the main conservative party is named Liberal Democratic Party (Jiyu Minshuto). The Democratic Party (Minshu-to) is a left of center liberal, social democratic party. The liberal character of the Liberal League (Jiyu Rengo) is disputed, it is also considered to be conservative party.

The timeline

From Public Society of Patriots until Constitutional Politics Party

1874: Liberals founded the Public Society of Patriots (Aikoku Koto)
1881: The Aikoku Koto is continued by the Liberal Party (Jiyu-to)
1891: The Jiyuto is renamed into Constitutional Liberal Party (Rikken Jiyuto)
1898: The Constitutional Liberal Party merged with the ⇒ Progressive Party into the Constitutional Politics Party (Kenseito)
1898: A faction seceded as the ⇒ Constitutional Center Party
1900: The party is taken over by the oligarchy and renamed into Constitutional Political Friends Association (Rikken Seiyukai)

From Constitutional Progressive Party to Reform Club

1882: The Constitutional Progressive Party (Rikken Kaishinto) is formed
1896: The party is continued by the 'Progressive Party (Shinpoto)
1898: The party merged into the Constitutional Politics Party (Kenseito)
1898: This party fell apart and a faction of the Kenseito formed the Constitutional Center Party (Kensei Honto), renamed in 1910 into the Constitutional National Party (Rikken Kokuminto)
1913: A faction seceded as the ⇒ Constitutional Friendship Association
1922: The Constitutional National Party is renamed Reform Club (Kakushin Kurabu)
1920s: The Reform Club merged into the Constitutional Political Friends Association

From Constitutional Friendship Association to Constitutional People's Party

1913: A faction of the ⇒ Constitutional National Party formed the Constitutional Friendship Association (Rikken Doshikai), renamed Constitutional Association (Kenseikai) in 1916
1927: The Constitutional Association merged with the ⇒ Political Friends Center Party into the Constitutional People's Party (Rikken Minseito)
1940: The party is dissolved by the regime

Political Friends Center Party

1924: A faction of the Constitutional Political Friends Association formed the Political Friends Center Party (Seiyu Honto)
1927: The party merged into the ⇒ Constitutional People's Party

From Renewal Party to Liberal Party (1993)

1993: A liberal faction of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (Jiyu-Minshuto) seceded as the Renewal Party (Shinseito)
1994: The Renewal Party merged with other factions into the New Frontier Party (Shinshinto)
1997: The New Frontier Party fell apart into many parties, among them since 1998 the Liberal Party (Jiyuto), but also the Good Governance Party (Minseito), the New Fraternity Party (Shinto-Yuai) and the Democratic Reform Party (Minshu-Kaikaku-Rengo)
2000: Dissidents of the Liberal Party formed the New Conservative Party (Hoshuto)
2003: The Liberal Party merged into the ⇒ Democratic Party of Japan

New Party Harbinger

1993: A liberal faction of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (Jiyu-Minshuto) seceded as the New Party Harbinger (Shinto Sakigake)
1996: Most members co-found the ⇒ Democratic Party of Japan
1998: The party evolved in conservative direction, renamed into Harbinger (Sakigake) and further renamed in 2002 into Green Assembly (Midori No Kaigi)

Democratic Party of Japan

1996: Dissidents from the ⇒ New Party Harbinger and the Social Democratic Party of Japan formed the Democratic Party of Japan (Nihon Minshuto)
1998: The party merged with the Good Governance Party (Minseito), the New Fraternity Party (Shinto-Yuai) and the Democratic Reform Party (Minshu-Kaikaku-Rengo) under the name Democratic Party of Japan (Nihon Minshuto, 民主党)
2003: The ⇒ Liberal Party merged into the party

Liberal leaders

Itagaki Taisuke - Hamaguchi Osachi

References

p.m.