Election Campaign- as a Cultural Event

Outline2

Basic Information

Japanese politics/ US politics

Hypothesis – Our Purpose

The comparison between US and Japan

- the party’s platformplatform (the policy)

- politician’s public appearancesappearances

The conclusion

Japan’s basic data

Leader of the country is the prime ministerVoter can NOT choose him/her directlyWe choose member of house by election,

house majority party chooses PM2 parties / LDP & DPJ

…based on the same party…has still similar policy

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The US’s basic data

Leader of the country is President.

We CAN choose him/her directly.

2 partiesRepublican & Democrat…has quite difference policy

2 houseSenate & House of Representatives

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Japanese and US Voter Affiliation5

Public opinion poll in telephone (August 1st &2nd, 2009)by Kyodo News Service ( 共同通信）

US - Two parties system

Republican

Democrats

Small gov. Big gov

Conservative

Liberal

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Our Hypothesis

Japan

Election campaign reflected by

group consciousness

USA

Election campaign reflects

individualism

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Case I: The Platform (“Manifesto”)

United Statesvs.Japan

USA’s “platform” (2008)9

Obama (Democrat) McCain (Republic)Strong border regulation

ImmigrationStrong border regulation

Immediately begin troop withdrawal.

War in IraqOpposes timetable for withdrawal.

Pro-choice Abortion Pro-LifeCut for the middle class

Taxes Cut for upper class

Promote National Insurance Plan; thanks to Government support

Health Care

Promote lower costs; thanks to market mechanism

Show the individualism

“Manifesto”Japan Lower House Election (August 30th, 2009)

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LDP DPJ

Grant aid(3-5 years old)

ChildrenChildren aid(-12 years old)about 250 $ /per month

2% growth in 2010 latter

support small businessby the gov by the gov supportsupport

Economy Support small businessby gov subsidyby gov subsidy

Rasing house income10 thousand $/ year

by the gov by the gov policypolicy

Wages Minimum Wages10 $/ hour

by the lawby the law

“Manifesto”Japan Lower House Election (August 30th, 2009)

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LDP DPJ

Up increase tax(after recovery)prohibit “Amakudari”“Amakudari”

Financial

Prohibit “Amakudari”“Amakudari”

“Amakudari” ( 天下り） = government employee leave to go work in the private sector.

Show the group consciousness in Japan

How politicians express themselves in public?Case II:

HowToexpressthemselves

United Statesvs.Japan

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The way to Speak…

American TV13

Street Speeches ( 街頭演説）14

Street Speech is the traditional way in JapanThe usually activities in the district for

politiciansEspecially, a lot of street speeches

What do you think?

Both movies are like a “twin”Policy: Little difference

Speech Manner: Very serious(strict face, policy-centered)

-- the symbol of “Group Consciousness”

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PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

The US Election16

What is debate? – with subscript

McCain: That, to me, was so hurtful.Obama: Less interested in our hurt feelings... than addressing the issues…

McCain: you didn't repudiate those remarks.Obama: And 100 percent, John, of your ads 100 percent of [McCain's Ads] have been negative...

Negative Campaign >> Policy How to control the images

- in order to get better positions than others

The choosing of the WORDS- use criticized, negative phrases

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Conclusion 18

Difference of Culture → Difference of Election Campaign

“Group Consciousness”“Individualism”

Japan United States

Party’sPlatform Just the

sameVery different

Politican’spublic appearnces

Look seriously

Look personality

Main Reference19

<Japanese> Kamashima - Media and Politics (2007) , Yuhikaku Watanabe - Obama and US (2008) , Gentosha

and a lot of more in the activities in Japan…

<English>http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/politics/2008/bios/view.bg?articleid=1063110

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/politics/2008/bios/view.bg?articleid=1063099

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._party_affiliation.pnghttp://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/16/politics/2008debates/main4525254.shtml

and we check a lot of website and books in the activities in William and Mary!!