| What is the role of the state in the development of civil society? Rather than a simplistic oppositional relationship in which the state suppresses civil society, the state pervasively shapes the development of civil society organizations. Through its direct and indirect structuring of incentives, the state promotes a particular pattern of civil society organization; political institutions structure the “rules of the game,” which in part determine who plays and who flourishes.; Political institutions account for the “dual pattern” of Japan's civil society. Japan has a robust collection of small local groups. For example, nearly all (90%) of Japanese belong to, and most (40%) participate in, one of the 300,000 residentially-based neighborhood associations across the country. Neighborhood associations engage in community projects and build social capital. However, Japan has the proportionally smallest professional civil society sector in the industrialized world. Only 0.4% of Japanese employees work in civil society organizations. Japan has a civil society with networks of association that support social capital and effective government without sustaining a professionalized advocacy community that can contribute new policy ideas or challenge current policies.; Contrary to culturalist assumptions, state action heavily structured this dual pattern. The instruments are inventoried here: a rigid regulatory framework, almost nonexistent tax benefits, and niggardly government funding. Rules concerning what kind of groups are allowed to form have clear implications, but this dissertation also investigations less obvious causes including: the implications of such incentives as bulk-mailing discounts for nonprofit organizations, which promotes mass memberships; and differential access for interest groups to the policy-making process. State influence can restrict group development—as Japan has hobbled professionalized advocacy groups—or promote it—as Japan has done for neighborhood associations. The dissertation also addresses sectoral variation.; Japan's underprofessionalized civil society organizations are ill equipped to engage in public policy debates, monitor state action, or influence public opinion or the media. Compared to US civil society groups, Japanese groups seldom rate mention in newspaper articles about politics. Likewise, Japanese media rarely cover research conducted by civil society organizations. Japan's dual civil society encompasses of an abundance of members, but few advocates. |
