CEAPS & Political Science Speaker | Kenneth McElwain, “What Do Japanese People Want from Their Constitution?”
- Sponsor
- Center For East Asian and Pacific Studies; Co-Sponsor: the Department of Political Science Student-Faculty Seminar
- Speaker
- Kenneth McElwain (University of Tokyo)
- Registration
- Registration (Zoom & In Person)
- Contact
- Yuchia Chang
- yuchia@illinois.edu
- Views
- 390
- Originating Calendar
- CEAPS Events Calendar
*If you registered before February 20th, please re-register with the new link. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Abstract: The Constitution of Japan, the oldest unamended constitution in the world, has become the focus of renewed partisan debate, with government leaders increasingly advocating for revision. However, whether this elite-driven initiative aligns with public sentiment remains uncertain. This talk examines the factors shaping civic support for and opposition to constitutional change by analyzing two key dimensions of constitutional legitimacy. The first is procedural: do Japanese citizens view the origins of their constitution and the legitimacy of amendment debates as appropriate? The second is substantive: to what extent do the rights and institutions enshrined in the constitution align with public conceptions of an ideal state? Drawing on original surveys and experiments, this study sheds light on the evolving role of constitutionalism in Japan and its broader implications for democratic governance.
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