Research Seminars @ Illinois

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Tailored for undergraduate researchers, this calendar is a curated list of research seminars at the University of Illinois. Explore the diverse world of research and expand your knowledge through engaging sessions designed to inspire and enlighten.

To have your events added or removed from this calendar, please contact OUR at ugresearch@illinois.edu

CEAPS & Political Science Speaker | Kenneth McElwain, “What Do Japanese People Want from Their Constitution?”

Event Type

Lecture

Sponsor

Center For East Asian and Pacific Studies; Co-Sponsor: the Department of Political Science Student-Faculty Seminar

Location

404 David Kinley Hall and Zoom

Date

Apr 14, 2025 12:00 - 1:30 pm

Speaker

Kenneth McElwain

Registration

Registration (Zoom & In Person)

Contact

Yuchia Chang

E-Mail

yuchia@illinois.edu

Originating Calendar

Campus Humanities 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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