Abstract

Significant wage and treatment differentials between regular workers in long-term employment and precarious non-regular workers have been a major political issue in Japan since the mid-1990s. I argue this phenomenon was caused by Japanese society’s resistance to American neoliberal hegemony. Why has Japan resisted it, and how has the resistance resulted in the rapid increase in the working poor? I contend anti-liberal, anti-free market norms of Japanese society centred on ‘systemic support’ have bolstered resistance to convergence in order to prevent capitalist dominance from severing long-term social ties, such as management-labour cooperation. My broadened definition of systemic support incorporates dominant elites’ support and protection of subordinates in exchange for their loyalty and obedience. This paper will explore reasons for the resistance to convergence by examining an ideational conflict within Japanese elites between the market liberalisation and anti-free market camps, particularly between two major industrial associations, Keidanren and Keizai Doyukai, which have played a key role as ‘ideational platforms’ for Japanese corporate society. Under the Hashimoto (1996-8) and Koizumi (2001-6) administrations, the market liberalisation camp gained influence, but since 2006, both the anti-free market camp and its subordinates (e.g. regular workers) have driven anti-neoliberal backlash.

摘要

自1990年代中期以来，长期雇用的正规工人与不稳定的非正规工人之间的工资和待遇差异一直是日本的主要政治问题。我认为这种现象是日本社会对美国新自由主义霸权的抵制所致。日本为什么抗拒，抗拒如何导致工作穷人迅速增加？我认为，以“系统性支持”为中心的日本社会的反自由，反自由市场规范增强了对趋同的抵制，以防止资本主义主导权切断诸如劳资合作等长期社会联系。我对系统支持的拓宽定义包含了统治精英的支持和对下属的保护，以换取他们的忠诚和服从。本文将通过研究日本精英内部在市场自由化和反自由市场阵营之间，特别是在两个主要行业协会，即Keidanren和Keizai Doyukai之间的思想冲突，探讨抗拒趋同的原因，它们在“理想化”中起着关键作用。日本企业社会的平台”。在桥本（1996-8）和小泉（2001-6）的领导下，市场自由化阵营获得了影响力，但是自2006年以来，反自由市场阵营及其下属（例如正规工人）都在推动反neolberalal反弹。作为日本企业社会的“理想平台”发挥了关键作用。在桥本（1996-8）和小泉（2001-6）的领导下，市场自由化阵营获得了影响，但是自2006年以来，反自由市场阵营及其下属（例如正规工人）都在推动反neolberalal反弹。作为日本企业社会的“理想平台”发挥了关键作用。在桥本（1996-8）和小泉（2001-6）的领导下，市场自由化阵营获得了影响，但是自2006年以来，反自由市场阵营及其下属（例如正规工人）都在推动反neolberalal反弹。