Japanese political scientist delivers lectures
Friday, February 6
Japanese professor Rei Shiratori delivered two lectures in Tbilisi, Free University of Tbilisi and Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) on February 4th.
“Transformation of Development Model as a Nation: Case of Japan after the End of World War II”
The theme depicts concisely but logically how Japan has been reconstructed and developed after its defeat in World War II.
(1) Transformation of basic philosophy of national development from Fukoku Kyouhei “enrich the nation by strengthening the military capacity” to Fukoku Jakuhei “enrich the nation by minimizing the militaristic capability;”
(2) Rapid growth era through “Double Income Policy;”
(3) Development of Welfare Policy – “the First Year of Welfare State in Japan” declared in 1973;
(4) Collapse of Japanese economy in 1990 and “Coalition Era” in 1993.
“Political Finance: How can we control Money in Politics?”
This lecture argues logically and practically how we can control money in politics that could cause a big problem realistically in conducting democratic political system.
It starts from the distinction in definitions of general “Political Fund” and “ Election campaign fund.”
Then it explains systematically about “legal regulation” on the basis of compelling power and “regulation on the principle of transparency” through information disclosure.
The theme also argues the system of “Political Party Subsidies” and “the guilt-by-complicity system.”
The lectures of Japanese professor were success. The audience enjoyed professionalism and analysis of Japanese scholar.
Profile:
Professor Rei Shiratori, President of IPSJ, is specialized in the theory of modern political analysis, and is famous for his sharpness in theoretical approach to the contemporary politics and for his various activities including wide and close contact with real politics in Japan.
His activities extend into three fields; he teaches “Theory and Practice of politics” in Tokai University where he serves as a professor of political science and director of the Research Institute of Social Science, holds president’s chair in the Institute for Political Studies in Japan, and recently he puts much emphasis on international academic and humanistic activities as you can see his director’s chair of the Center for the Study of Contemporary Japan in University of Essex (1984 – 1987).
