Japan's Political Reform: Electoral Institution Change and Political Culture

1994年，日本改变了用于选举国会下议院议员的选举制度。单一成员地区取代了当地的多成员地区。还设立了九个新的区域比例代表制选区。日本在新制度下的第一次选举将于1996年举行。这一独特的历史事件为研究一个主要工业民主国家的制度变迁的一级效应提供了一个实验室。日本长期以来有很强的“个人投票”传统，许多人认为这是来自同一政党的候选人在多人选区进行竞争的结果。其他人认为，个人投票更多地反映了政治文化，而不是现有的选举机构。通过研究政党、候选人和选民在选举期间的行为，这个项目将确定机构是否以及如何发挥作用。这项研究还将调查改革对日本民主态度的影响。就像美国的情况一样，普遍存在着一种深深的不信任和冷漠，这影响着人们是否投票，以及他们如何做出选举选择。在世界上最重要的民主国家之一，改革能否改变日本人与政府打交道的方式，可能是政府稳定的一个重要组成部分。

In 1994, Japan changed the electoral system used to choose members of the lower house of the Diet. Single member districts replaced local multi-members districts. Nine new regional proportional representation constituencies were also established. Japan's first election under the new system will occur in 1996. This unique historical event provides a laboratory for the study of first-order effects of institutional change in a major industrial democracy. Japan has long had a strong "personal vote" tradition which many believe resulted from the competition between candidates from the same party in multi-member districts. Others believe the personal vote reflects political culture moreso than established electoral institutions. By examining the party, candidate and voter behavior during the election, this project will determine if and how institutions matter. The study will also investigate the effects of reform on attitudes toward democracy in Japan. Much as in the American case, there exists a prevailing deep mistrust and apathy that affects whether people vote and how they make electoral choices. Whether reform can make a difference in the way the Japanese relate to their government can be an important component of governmental stability in one of the world's most important democracies.