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Soft–Hard Power Convergence and Democracy in Abe’s Japan

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Power in Contemporary Japan

Abstract

Japan’s remilitarization and rebranding constitute stratagems of “hard” and “soft” power, respectively. Marie Thorsten considers both forms of power together, with attention to changes under the second administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2012–). As the state increases its management over both hard and soft power, what are implications for popular culture to serve democracy? The consequence of artifacts of popular culture standing only for soft power, or “Brand Japan,” is that artistic efforts then fail to speak for the “public sphere,” a concept, adapted from Habermas, understood as an intangible space where citizens discuss topics without governmental interference. A public sphere is necessary and is important as citizens debate rearmament.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Global Communications, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan

    Marie Thorsten

Authors
  1. Marie Thorsten
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Institute for the Liberal Arts, Doshisha University, Japan

    Gill Steel

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© 2016 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s)

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Thorsten, M. (2016). Soft–Hard Power Convergence and Democracy in Abe’s Japan. In: Steel, G. (eds) Power in Contemporary Japan. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59193-7_14

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