Gradual Institutional Change in Japan by Karol Zakowski;

Author:Karol Zakowski;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Unlimited)
Published: 2020-11-18T00:00:00+00:00

Conclusion

In contrast to the DPJ’s failed attempt at decision-making reform, the institutional changes under the second Abe administration were introduced gradually, over a longer period of time. Instead of completely overhauling the decision-making process, the prime minister and his entourage exploited the old system. Through layering, they supplemented preexisting institutions with new organs that significantly changed the balance of power between the Kantei and the bureaucrats. The NSC and its Secretariat enabled the prime minister to play a more active role in foreign and security policies, while the Cabinet Bureau of Personnel Affairs enhanced his competences regarding the distribution of high-ranking bureaucratic posts. The administrative backing for both new organs was provided by the Cabinet Secretariat, which reflected CCS Suga’s crucial role in decision making. A top-down decision-making style and centralization of power in the Kantei was achieved at the expense of political neutrality of the bureaucrats whose careers now depended on their proximity to the prime minister and the CCS.

The Kantei and the government generally behaved as a monolith. Prime Minister Abe carefully selected his closest administrative staff and cabinet members. Thanks to daily meetings with CCS, two political CCSs, administrative CCS, and the prime minister’s executive secretary, he made sure that his intentions were precisely transmitted to his entourage. At the same time, Abe entrusted implementation of his policy agenda to his subordinates, thus avoiding excessive micromanagement. CCS Suga focused on internal affairs, Prime Minister’s Executive Secretary Imai on economic policy, and National Security Adviser Yachi on foreign and security matters. Instead of representing the interests of their ministries, all cabinet members were expected to pursue the policy goals imposed on them by the Kantei, which was symbolized by the fact that almost all of them were entrusted with additional tasks apart from their basic responsibilities. The cabinet meetings served as venue for automatic authorization of the decisions made by the prime minister, not as forum for discussion.

Numerous advisory bodies established under the cabinet proved instrumental in circumventing the traditional bureaucratic procedures. Thanks to the fact that the competences of various councils overlapped, Abe acted as an arbiter who chose policy proposals of one organ or another at his discretion. While METI bureaucrats or politicians and advisers who preferred achieving a high economic growth rate to maintaining budgetary balance dominated in the prime minister’s entourage, depending on the situation and political interests, Abe could always resort to the advice from the MOF or such neoliberal economists as Takenaka Heizō. This system enabled the prime minister to act as a pivot linking various groups and occasionally playing one of them off against another.

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