What is Conservatism in Japanese Political Spectrum?

Introduction

The concept of "conservatism" in Japan often sparks debate. People labeled as conservative are sometimes criticized with statements like, "That person is not a true conservative." This argument often leads to rebuttals and goes unresolved, as different perspectives clash on the definition of conservatism. This essay aims to explore a definition of conservatism that can resonate with diverse viewpoints.

Is Conservatism About Preserving Tradition?

It’s commonly said that conservatism means preserving tradition. Some self-identified conservatives wear traditional clothing, like kimono, yet most wear Western clothes today, suggesting they have abandoned the traditional attire. Conservatism in Japan is often associated with preserving the imperial tradition, but few conservatives advocate for practices like polygamy, which was once part of that tradition. Likewise, very few argue for revoking women's suffrage to return to a pre-war system. Japan’s current political system, democracy, is relatively new in its long history, while previous systems included feudal rule by military shoguns or aristocratic rule by the imperial family. Which of these should be preserved as "tradition"? Traditionalism faces this challenge: people abandon traditions over time, so saying conservatism means "preserving tradition" often reflects personal preference, making it an inadequate definition.

Two Types of Conservatism

Conservatism can be divided into two types: "modern conservatism" and "pre-modern conservatism." Both types value the state, making this a common ground. However, they differ in their approach to human rights. Modern conservatism values both state sovereignty and human rights, while pre-modern conservatism downplays human rights, focusing solely on state sovereignty. Because human rights are a modern concept, those who disregard or minimize them can be classified as "pre-modern conservatives," and those who uphold them as "modern conservatives."

What is the Left?

The left stands in opposition to conservatism, emphasizing human rights over state sovereignty. For example, Japan's Communist Party seeks the gradual dissolution of the Self-Defense Forces and favors a demilitarized state. Leftists may avoid the term "citizens" for "nationals" or prefer "citizens" over "subjects," seeing the state as a threat to individual rights. Left-wing ideas have roots in Karl Marx’s communist thought, which viewed the state as an oppressive mechanism in class society and advocated for a state-free society through revolution.

The Left and Liberalism are Not the Same

Although sometimes confused, the left and liberalism are distinct. Liberalism is based on respect for human rights and may overlap with leftist thought, but it does not reject the state. Political scientist Francis Fukuyama has argued that liberal democracy requires a state to support human rights and public welfare, distinguishing liberalism from the anti-state stance of the left.

Political Spectrum Diagram

On the political spectrum, "the left" is at one end, followed by "modern conservatism" in the center and "pre-modern conservatism" or "the right" at the other end. The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party fall on the left. Modern conservatives, such as members of the Liberal Democratic Party, occupy the center-right, with certain LDP figures leaning more toward pre-modern conservatism.

Liberal Democratic Party’s Spirit of Modern Conservatism

Within Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), both modern and pre-modern conservatives coexist. The party’s foundational principles, however, are rooted in modern conservatism, advocating for respect for human rights and individual dignity as central to national welfare. Statements on these ideals appear in both the 1955 founding declaration and the 2005 fifty-year vision.

Conclusion

This essay has explored two types of conservatism—modern and pre-modern—and contrasted them with leftist ideas. While modern conservatism values both state sovereignty and human rights, pre-modern conservatism values only state sovereignty. The LDP’s founding principles represent modern conservatism, affirming a commitment to human rights and national welfare.

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Reference

Illustration (Shigeru Yoshida): Image source https://illuststation196.com/
Shigeru Yoshida (1878–1967) served as Prime Minister during the post-war period when Japan was under occupation. He implemented policies focused on economic development and Japan-U.S. security, greatly influencing the politics of Japan thereafter.

State: "A state is a human community that successfully claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory." (Max Weber)

Traditionalism: "Society is indeed a contract... it is a partnership not only between those who are living but between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born." "The spirit of innovation is generally the result of a self-centered character and a narrow vision... one should be sufficiently cautious when looking at the defects of the state." "We must fear God, revere the King, love the Parliament, owe duty to the magistrate, respect the clergy, and honor the nobility." (Edmund Burke)

Liberalism: "All men are to be considered equal and independent, and no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions." "Men... are by nature all free and equal and independent, so that no one can be subjected to the political power of another without his own consent." (John Locke)

Revolutionary Thought: "If a legislator should try to take away the property of the people and place them in a state of slavery under arbitrary power, they enter into a state of war with the people, and the people are freed from their obligation to obey." (John Locke)

Left/Right: The terms "left" (leftist) and "right" (rightist) originated during the French Revolution (1789–1799). In the National Assembly, those demanding the abolition of the monarchy and a transformation to a republic based on freedom and equality took seats on the left, while those defending the traditional institutions of monarchy and feudalism took seats on the right. This established the use of "left" and "right" to describe political positions.

The meanings of these terms significantly changed in the late 19th century with the Industrial Revolution, which created a class-based capitalist society, and the emergence of socialist and communist ideologies advocating for the liberation of workers from the ruling class. After the Russian Revolution (1917), these ideologies spread worldwide, and "left" came to mean socialism or communism, while "right" referred to forces defending capitalist society from socialist revolution. Thus, "left" that once meant "liberalism" since the French Revolution began to oppose "liberalism." Marx viewed the state as an "instrument of class struggle repression," leading to its negative perception in communism.

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Japanese Version: https://note.com/socrateos/n/n0a67aa218567