从“世袭政治”看日本民主的实像

On the Reality of Japanese Democracy from the Perspective of Hereditary Politics

战后60年代以来日本政界开始凸显的"世袭"现象,冷战后一度有愈演愈烈之势。"经济大国"日本在追求"政治大国"的过程中,居然变成了一个"世袭大国"。原因固然有传统文化、社会心理方面的影响,但必须说当代的选举制度、政党政治及经济利益是其决定性的要因。表面看似有些积极因素的"世袭政治",实则有违平等理念,扭曲了民主精神,阻碍了人才选拔的渠道,诱发了政治腐败,不利于有效决策,无形中侵蚀了日本民主的基础。在政权交替竞争中成为焦点的"世袭问题",仍停留在敲敲警钟的程度,距离立法限制还有很长的路要走,短期内不可能根本上消除。现今只能是通过内部引入选拔机制,外部完善政党间的竞争,逐步充实以能力本位、政策本位为主的选举制度和政党制度。

The hereditary phenomenon in Japanese political circles coming out from the 1960s has become more and more serious after the Cold War. In the process of pursuing political power and economic power, Japan has actually turned into a hereditary na- tion. There are many reasons for this phenomenon, such as the modem electoral system, party politics and its economic interests as the decisive causes besides the influence of traditional culture and social and psychological reasons. The hereditary politics has some positive impact. However, it goes against the spirit of equality, distorts the idea of democracy, blocks the talent- selection channel, incurs political corruption, stands against the effective decision- making, and erodes virtually the democracy base in Japan. The hereditary politics which is frequently brought to public attention in the transition of power is still at the stage of sound- ing the alarm and there is still a long way to go before legal restriction. It can not been fundamentally eliminated in a short time. What can be done at present is to establish gradually a competency- based electoral system and a policy- based party system by improving competition between political parties.