春雨直播app

A democracy is typically defined as a political system combining universal suffrage with competitive elections. But where did this system originate? According to most political science textbooks, democracy was first established in the United States in the early 19th century and later spread worldwide through several “waves” of democratization. This narrative is widely taught in Japanese classrooms.
 
However, this description is incorrect. In the early 19th century, American women did not have the right to vote. It was only after World War I that women’s suffrage was introduced into the federal elections. In this regard, it can be said that the United States became a true democracy much later than is often claimed.
 
So, which country was the first to introduce women's suffrage? The answer is New Zealand, which granted these rights in 1893. This was followed by Australia, Finland, and Norway, all before World War I. Going by the textbook definition, democracy would have originated in these small countries on the periphery of the international system.
 
The lesser-known history of democracy is largely due to the lack of interest in gender among political scientists. Gender norms that concentrate power in the hands of men have had an extremely powerful influence on politics, not just in Japan but elsewhere as well. Nevertheless, gender discussions have long been marginalized in academia. The fact that Japan’s House of Representatives has one of the lowest percentages of women members has not been mentioned in most of the textbooks.
 
What would political science look like if it fully recognized the role of gender in politics? This question inspired this book. Chapter 1 explores the concept of politics and Chapter 2 examines the nature of democracy. Chapter 3 focuses on public policy, with an emphasis on the welfare state, and Chapter 4 discusses the logic behind elections. Through these chapters, this book portrays Japanese politics as a “democracy without women.”
 
Since its initial publication, this book has garnered a large readership and gone through multiple editions. However, this also reflects how little has changed–Japan remains a male-dominated country. I sincerely hope that one day Japan achieves gender equality, rendering the content of this book obsolete.
 

(Written by MAEDA Kentaro, Professor, Graduate Schools for Law and Politics / 2024)