Is Japan a Silver Democracy? Demographics, Politics, and Policy Choices for the 21st Century
Past Event
Is Japan a Silver Democracy? Demographics, Politics, and Policy Choices for the 21st Century
Will demographics shape Japan’s future, and if so, in what ways? A rapidly aging society and a sharp drop in population have long been anticipated in Japan, but their impact on the political process and public policy in the 21st century are hotly debated. Some see a silver democracy at work as elderly citizens constitute an ever larger share of the electorate and electoral institutions magnify their political voice. Others, however, dispute the notion that senior citizens are a major driving force in Japanese politics, skewing a whole gamut of economic and social policies in their favor.
On December 3, the Center for East Asia Policy Studies hosted a seminar on the implications of demographic change for Japanese politics and future public policy decision making. Expert panelists from the United States, Canada, and Japan offered insights and analyses on a range of issues, including the voting power and political mobilization of different age groups in Japan, the impact of demographics on Japan’s growth strategy, and the competing social policies and fiscal allocations benefiting young and elderly citizens.
Agenda
Panel 1: Demographics and Politics
The Politics of Japan’s Shifting Demographics – by Leonard Schoppa
The Effect of Population Aging on Politics – by Michio Umeda
Japanese Youths and the Politics – by Ito Peng
Mireya Solís
Director - Center for East Asia Policy Studies
Senior Fellow - Foreign Policy, Center for East Asia Policy Studies
Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies
Ito Peng
Professor of Sociology and Public Policy; Director, Centre for Global Social Policy - University of Toronto
Leonard Schoppa
Associate Dean for the Social Sciences; Professor of Politics - University of Virginia
Michio Umeda
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law and Letters - Ehime University
Panel 2: Demographics and Public Policy
Presentation by John Creighton Campbell
How to Overcome the Silver Democracy in Japan – by Naohiro Yashiro
John Creighton Campbell
Project Researcher, Institute of Gerontology, University of Tokyo - Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Michigan
Liv Coleman
Assistant Professor, Department of Government, History and Sociology - University of Tampa
Naohiro Yashiro
Visiting Professor - International Christian University
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