Analysis
ABE'S ELECTORAL DISASTER - WHAT NEXT IN JAPANESE POLITICS?
by Purnendra Jain purnendra.jain@adelaide.edu.au
Professor and Head, Centre for Asian Studies, Adelaide University
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) got trounced
at the triennial House of Councillors elections held on 29 July. The LDP is
for the first time reduced to a minority status in the upper house of Japan’s
bicameral parliament, while opposition parties, led by the Democratic Party
of Japan (DPJ) have gained majority. Former LDP heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa’s
DPJ has already occupied the House of Councillors chair and will head most
of the important committees, thus controlling parliamentary business in this
house. This will frustrate the government in passing bills even though it
still holds a solid majority in the House of Representatives, the lower house.
Prime Minister Abe has hitherto resisted the pressure to
resign, as he still has support from some senior party colleagues. Technically,
the prime minister need not resign as he is the leader of the House of Representatives,
the more powerful lower house, where the LDP together with its coalition partner,
New Komeito, maintains a two thirds majority.
Precedents, however, do suggest that the prime minister should
take responsibility and offer resignation even after an upper house electoral
debacle, as happened in 1989 and 1998. But despite demand from the opposition
and even within his own party Abe refuses to step aside. Instead he has vowed
to reshuffle his cabinet soon and appoint new party officials in order to
inject fresh life in his party and government.
How long Abe will continue in his position is hard to tell.
What is certain is that he has lost his previous influence both within his
party and government. Abe stays for the moment partly because the LDP has
no clear succession plan and in times of political volatility and falling
popularity no one is willing to put their hand up to challenge Abe.
Voters’ thumbs down to the LDP indicate that they feel
increasingly concerned about the prevailing corrupt practices, such as financial
misappropriations by ministers, and bureaucratic bungles like the disappearance
of pension records of around half of the Japanese working population.
When he took office in September last year, Abe was seen
as a new breed of political leader befitting the 21st century. But he disappointed
many in Japan through his inaction and lip service when political corruption
and official mismanagement surfaced. Nor was he able to address increasing
economic disparities and the rural-urban divide. Instead, he focused on his
nationalist agenda through educational reform and constitutional revision
– issues that remain highly divisive. Soon he was seen to be an old-style
LDP leader courting support from vested interests rather than moving forward
with a reformist agenda.
Whether or not Abe continues, the LDP’s position within
Japanese politics has weakened considerably. The party that has ruled Japan
for 51 of the past 52 years may face greater electoral competition at the
next lower house elections in 2009. If Ozawa and his team continue to offer
attractive and competitive policy choices to voters without falling apart
as other opposition parties have done in the past, they could be writing a
new chapter in Japanese politics: the eventual arrival of a two-party system.
Links:
MAINSTREAMING GENDER IN WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN
SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (SEAP): LESSONS FOR AUSTRALIA
by Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt kuntala.lahiri-dutt@anu.edu.au,
Fellow at the Resource Management in Asia Pacific Program in the Australian
National University, and recently elected member of the global Gender and
Water Alliance Steering Committee.
The second World Water Forum in The Hague in 2000 noted
that water resource management should be based on a participatory approach,
with men and women having an equal voice in the use of water and in sharing
the benefits. Consequently, the Gender and Water Alliance (GWA) was established
as an international advocacy body to strengthen the role of women in water
policy and management at all levels. The GWA has become an effective global
voice, which champions the idea of integrated water resources management
or IWRM.
IWRM aims to optimise economic and social welfare without
compromising the sustainability of environmental systems. International
organisations and many governments have committed themselves to its key
principles to guide their policy making. These include:
- Water should be treated as an economic, social, and environmental
good.
- Water policies should focus on the management of water as a whole
and not just on the provision of water.
- Governments should facilitate and enable the sustainable development
of water resources by the provision of integrated water policies and
regulatory frameworks.
- Water resources should be managed at the lowest appropriate level.
- Women should be recognised as central to the provision, management
and safeguarding of water.
A Regional Workshop on Strategic Planning for Mainstreaming
Gender in IWRM in Southeast Asia and the Pacific took place in Bangkok in
July 2007. Taking stock of initiatives to integrate gender in water resource
management, the workshop identified a range of activities from capacity
building for small-scale water service providers and women farmers in villages
and strengthening gender mainstreaming in the Mekong River Commission, to
knowledge development, management, and strengthening the GWA as a regional
network.
It also noted that efforts in gender mainstreaming have
so far been aimed at developing countries of the world. This is probably
a reflection of the continuing predominance of basic issues of water,
sanitation and hygiene in the developing world. While such concerns are
not as relevant to developed countries, they could learn from the work
being done on gender mainstreaming. Indeed, a close examination of the
national water policies and various water-related initiatives within these
countries would reveal a poor recognition of women’s concerns.
The work taking place in the Southeast Asia and the
Pacific gives a cue for what needs to be done in Australia to:
-- increase understanding of gender mainstreaming.
This means not just counting the numbers of women in water committees
or water-care groups or recording the implications of water resource
development projects and interventions on women and men, but taking
learning from all over the world and transforming the practices within
Australia to re-set the agenda for water management
-- engage better with Integrated Water Resource
Management (IWRM), a concept which poses a challenge to the dominant
discourse of centralised water policy and management
-- substantially address gender
issues in water governance. Governance is the process of decision-making
– how and by whom our water resources are to be managed –
and this is essentially a question of power. However, gender has
not been addressed in this context. For example, we need to know
what difference the presence of women on water committees has made
in terms of accountability and transparency in the governance of
water, as well as whether this has actually made a difference in
women’s empowerment.
Profile
This month we profile retired Major General Michael
G. Smith AO, chief executive officer of the humanitarian aid and
development organisation Austcare.
Q: When did you become interested in studying Asia
and why?
A: I became aware in high school that Australia’s security
was intimately linked with the Asia-Pacific region. The impact of Japan as
a world power in World War II and Australia’s withdrawal from Britain
made me realise that Australia’s future, whilst global, would be irrevocably
linked with Asia and the United States. My subsequent many visits to Asia
reinforced this view and Austcare’s major focus increasingly is in the
Asia-Pacific region.
Q: What are your current preoccupations?
A: I became aware in high school that Australia’s security
was intimately linked with the Asia-Pacific region. The impact of Japan as
a world power in World War II and Australia’s withdrawal from Britain
made me realise that Australia’s future, whilst global, would be irrevocably
linked with Asia and the United States. My subsequent many visits to Asia
reinforced this view and Austcare’s major focus increasingly is in the
Asia-Pacific region.
Q: How do these fit into the contemporary scene?
A: Globalisation and climate change are having, and will
have, enormous impacts in the Asia-Pacific region. Austcare’s work to
enhance human security through the protection of civilian communities and
by developing their capacity to escape chronic poverty will impact on Australia’s
future. A greater understanding of Asia by all Australians will better enable
us as a nation to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The continuing
rise of China and India as major powers will continue to have a great impact
on Australia and in the region.
Q. What are your hopes for Asian studies in Australia?
A: My wish is that we all develop a better understanding of the diversity
and richness of Asian cultures, religions, languages and ways of life. We
must avoid monolithic and simplistic definitions of Asia. Increasing our understanding
will help us learn a lot and, as Australians, we will become richer from that
experience. As a non-sectarian organisation, Austcare particularly advocates
assisting people in need regardless of race, religion or gender. Much of the
focus on Asia has been on economic prosperity, but the richness of the relations
between Australians and Asians is more about the human dimension.
Links:
Student of the month
Hannah Derwent (hannahderwent@yahoo.com.au)
always thought that when she went to high school she would study French.
However, after starting learning Indonesian, she loved it, and French got
the flick. After visiting Indonesia in 1996 on a school trip, Hannah couldn’t
wait to go back. She continued her Indonesian studies at the University
of New South Wales as part of her Bachelor of Arts/Laws, and supplemented
her course with a semester in Yogyakarta in 2002 as part of the Australian
Consortium of In-Country Indonesian Studies (ACICIS) exchange program. Hannah
returned to Indonesia in 2004 and travelled throughout Java and Sulawesi.
On finishing university in June 2005, she worked in Sydney in the field
of immigration law where she dealt with clients from all different cultural
backgrounds.
In January 2006, Hannah moved to Aceh. She lived in Aceh Pidie for a couple
of months while doing part-time translation work for the International Development
Law Organization (IDLO) in Banda Aceh. When IDLO opened their office in
Banda Aceh in March 2006, Hannah began working there as Project Assistant,
and was promoted to Legal Officer in September 2006. Hannah is currently
managing three of IDLO’s programs, as part of their Post-Tsunami Legal
Assistance Initiative, assisting tsunami survivors with their legal needs,
in particular land, inheritance and guardianship issues. Hannah has found
her Indonesian language skills and understanding of the Indonesian context
incredibly valuable in Aceh, making liaising with local partners and government
agencies so much easier. The work Hannah has done with IDLO has also vastly
increased her knowledge of Islamic law and how it is applied in Aceh, and
in Indonesia generally. Hannah implores people not to underestimate the
opportunities that are out there for people with solid Asian language skills,
especially in Indonesia!
Links:
International Development Law Organization http://www.idlo.int
Website of the month
http://ics.nccu.edu.tw/eced/
The China Economic Databases project is sponsored by the
Center for China Studies in National Chengchi University and supported by
the Ministry of Education in Taiwan. This site has nine databases: Books;
Literature Index; Policy Reports; Economic Reports; OpenCourseWare; Conferences;
Websites; Experts; Call for papers ; RMB Research.
Recent article of interest
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer,
delivered a speech to the Australian Institute of International
Affairs and Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry International Business
Conference in Western Australia on 27 July in which he talked about APEC’s
role in Asia Pacific Regionalism. Downer outlined his views on liberal trade
regimes, APEC’s achievements since 1989 and the issues facing the Leaders’
Meeting to be held in Sydney in September, including further trade, investment
and domestic economic liberalisation; and the region’s energy needs
and climate change. He made it clear there was no mood in APEC for expanding
membership to allow India’s entry into APEC. http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/speeches/2007/070727_apec.html
See also Lowy Institute Executive Director Allan Gyngell’s
policy brief Design faults: the Asia Pacific’s regional architecture
http://www.lowyinstitute.org/,
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/our-ignorance-of-asia-is-off-like-old-sushi/2007/07/04/1183351290532.html
Did you know?
The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust recently awarded 117
fellowships. For the first time, one of these was sponsored by the Australia-China
Council. Ms Amanda Phillips, a dancer, director, actor, choreographer and
educator from Adelaide won the 2007 fellowship worth $22,000. Her project
is to identify strategies for implementing cultural education and learning
of the arts through inclusive systems for dance in Asia. See http://www.dfat.gov.au/acc/
Diary dates
AUSTRALIA'S FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH THE PEOPLE'S
REPUBLIC OF CHINA, 22 August, Sydney. Graeme Meehan, deputy head
of the China Free Trade Agreement Task Force, Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade, will deliver a progress report on the negotiations at the University
of Technology Sydney’s China Research Centre at 7pm. RSVP by 20 August
to http://surveys.uts.edu.au/index.cfm?surveyid=2910
See map at http://www.uts.edu.au/about/mapsdirections/citymap.html
FIVE MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT - Climate Change with Dr
Peter Christoff and Dr Graeme Pearman, 23 August, Melbourne. Dr Peter
Christoff coordinates Environmental Studies in the School of Social and Environmental
Enquiry, University of Melbourne and Dr Graeme Pearman was Chief of CSIRO
Atmospheric Research from 1992-2002. This event will examine the realities
of climate change and how to find equitable solutions for Australia and the
region. It will be chaired by Professor Ross Garnaut, who has been commissioned
by the Labor Party to study the economic impact of climate change. Thursday
23rd August 2007, 6.30 pm - 8.00 pm Carrillo Gantner Lecture Theatre, Sidney
Myer Asia Centre, University of Melbourne
To reserve a seat, please send an email to events@asialink.unimelb.edu.au
with "Climate Change" in the subject line.
RELIEF IN SIGHT? How well prepared is Australia to
respond to a crisis in our region? 23 August, Adelaide. This forum
will look at what capacity Australia has to bring about immediate and effective
relief when a crisis hits in the region? It is presented by World Vision Australia
and AusAID and supported by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre. Speakers
include the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, CEO of the Australian
Red Cross, Robert Tickner and Strategic Operations Director in World Vision
International, Dan Kelly. 5.15pm for 5.30pm start: Sebel Playford Adelaide
To register go to: http://www.unisa.edu.au/hawkecentre/events/2007events/WV_relief_reg.asp
NATURE THROUGH JADE, international symposium, 1 September
2007, Sydney. This symposium will be held in conjunction with the
exhibition Translucent world: Chinese jade from the Forbidden City at the
Art Gallery of New South Wales 29 August–11 November 2007. Speakers
include: Li LIU, La Trobe University; J Keith Wilson, Freer Gallery of Art
and Arthur M Sackler Gallery; Jenny So, Chinese University of Hong Kong; ZHANG
Rong, Palace Museum, Beijing; LIU Yang, Art Gallery of New South Wales; ZHANG
Guangwen, Palace Museum, Beijing. 9.30am - 4.30pm. Bookings: Tel: (02) 9225
1878. See www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/member/events
APEC ECONOMIC LEADERS MEETING, 8-9 September, Sydney.
The main event of the APEC year brings together the 21 APEC Member Economy
leaders, thousands of delegates, support personnel and the international media.
See http://www.apec2007.org
INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC: INTELLIGENCE
CULTURE AND PRACTICE The Australian Institute of International Affairs
South Australian Branch is hosting this conference on 17 and 18 September
at the University of Adelaide. Contact: Associate Professor Felix Patrikeeff
felix.patrikeeff@adelaide.edu.au
SOUTH ASIA UPDATE AND POVERTY DYNAMICS CONFERENCE,
27 and 28 September 2007, Canberra. This discussion of issues and
events in India and South Asia aims to enhance policy makers’ knowledge
of trends and developments in South Asia, and to provide networking opportunities
for exploring economic, social and political dynamics in the region. Speakers
include renowned experts from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank,
the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and regional agencies as well as
specialists based in Australian and overseas universities. For further information
contact Tracy Lee t.lee@latrobe.edu.au
or visit the conference website: www.sueztosuva.org.au/south_asia/sa_research_facility.php
CHINA: CONFERENCE ON MIGRATION AND SOCIAL PROTECTION,
25 to 26 September, Beijing. Monash University's Asian Business and
Economics Research Unit together with the Institute of Population and Labour
Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Renmin-Monash
Advanced Centre for Economic Studies are staging an international conference
to explore issues such as: labour market integration and social protection,
migrant participation in social security schemes, migrant alternatives to
state-sponsored social protection, migrant working conditions, salaries and
wage arrears, and responsibilities of government in the provision of social
protection.
See www.buseco.monash.edu.au/units/aberu/Conference2007/index.php
or contact Dr Ingrid Nielsen Ingrid.Nielsen@buseco.monash.edu.au
DESPOTS, DEMOCRATS AND DISCONTENTS: Democratic Prospects
and International Policy Responses in the Middle East and South Asia, 2 October
Sydney. The Sydney Democracy Forum and the Lowy Institute for International
Policy are hosting this event, with the following speakers: Anthony Bubalo
(Lowy Institute for International Policy), Professor Niraja Gopal Jayal (Jawaharlal
Nehru University) and Professor John Keane (Westminster University/University
of Sydney)
2 to 5 pm at the Lowy Institute for International Policy, 31 Bligh Street,
Sydney
RSVP: r.mueller@econ.usyd.edu.au
by 25 September.
SIXTY YEARS OF INDIAN DEMOCRACY: Achievements and
Prospects 2 October, Sydney. The Sydney Democracy Forum, with Sydney
Ideas, presents a lecture by Professor Niraja Gopal Jayal (Jawaharlal Nehru
University) at the Seymour Centre, corner of City Road and Cleveland Street,
University of Sydney, 7pm. Bookings are essential: phone
(02) 9351 7940.
ASPIRE: WATER AND SANITATION IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
REGION: Opportunities, Challenges and Technology, Perth, 28 October - 1 November
2007. The Australian Water Association, in conjunction with the International
Water Association is organising this conference, which will focus on design,
operation, maintenance and management of water and wastewater systems. Innovations
in the field, case studies on safe and reliable systems for removal of nutrients,
water reuse, and methods of better operation will also be discussed at the
conference. There will be specific emphasis on issues facing the Asia-Pacific
Region. Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre. See http://www.awa.asn.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=ASPIRE_2007&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=4883
ASIA PACIFIC REGION: SOCIETIES IN TRANSFORMATION
conference, Georgetown (Penang) Malaysia, 19-22 November, 2007. The
region is seemingly now more integrated, with unprecedented levels of tourism,
migration, and economic and cultural linkages. But, are the nations of the
region, and their populations, more divided, united or are they fundamentally
unchanged over the past two decades? These are questions to be raised in a
conference co-sponsored by the School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains
Malaysia (USM) and the Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformation Studies
(CAPSTRANS), University of Wollongong, Australia The conference website link
is at: http://www.capstrans.edu.au/resources/conferences/2007/conferences-2007-apsa.html
Submission of abstracts to Dr Tim Scrase: tims@uow.edu.au
by 30 June 2007
17th NEW ZEALAND ASIAN STUDIES SOCIETY (NZASIA) CONFERENCE,
Otago, 22-25 November 2007. This will be an open, multidisciplinary
conference. Participants are invited to submit panel or paper proposals presenting
original research on any Asian-related topic. Proposals for panels are welcome.
Paper abstracts, single-spaced and no longer than 200 words, must be submitted
before 1 June 2007 to nzasia.conference@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Full conference details can be found at http://www.nzasia.org.nz
'OCCUPYING 'THE OTHER': AUSTRALIA AND MILITARY OCCUPATIONS
FROM JAPAN TO IRAQ'. 29-30 November 2007, Wollongong. Call for Papers
This symposium sponsored by the Japan Foundation, the Centre for Asia Pacific
Social Transformation Studies (CAPSTRANS) at the University of Wollongong
and Monash University aims to bring together journalists, public commentators
and scholars investigating Australian involvement in foreign military occupations.
It will pose the question: ‘How are we to understand this ongoing military
commitment to the region, and how can the occupation of Japan contribute to
understanding this commitment and, more generically, the role of military
occupations today?’ Deadline for the submission of paper is 31 July
2007. Contact Dr Christine de Matos
cdm@uow.edu.au
IS THIS THE ASIAN CENTURY? 17th Asian Studies Association
of Australia Conference, 1-3 July 2008, Melbourne. The biennial Asian
Studies Association of Australia conference is the largest gathering of expertise
on Asia in the southern hemisphere. The theme for 2008 invites you to assess
how the regions and issues on which you are interested are faring. The ASAA
conference is multi-disciplinary and covers Central, South, South-East and
North East Asia and the relationship of all of these with the rest of the
world. See http://www.conferenceworks.net.au/asaa
You are welcome to advertise Asia-related events in this space. Send
details to: fbeddie@infinite.net.au
Feedback
What would be useful for you? Human interest stories, profiles
of successful graduates of Asian studies, more news about what's on, moderated
discussions on topical issues? Send your ideas to fbeddie@ozemail.com.au.
About the ASAA
The Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) promotes
the study of Asian languages, societies, cultures, and politics in Australia,
supports teaching and research in Asian studies and works towards an understanding
of Asia in the community at large. It publishes the Asian Studies Review
journal and holds a biennial conference. ASAA and the Centre for Language
Studies at National University of Singapore also co-publish an annual supplementary
issue of the Centre's fully peer-reviewed electronic Foreign Language Teaching
Journal (e-FLT). See http://e-flt.nus.edu.sg
The ASAA believes there is an urgent need to develop a strategy to preserve,
renew and extend Australian expertise about Asia. It has called on the government
to show national leadership in the promotion of Australia’s Asia knowledge
and skills. See Maximizing Australia's Asia Knowledge Repositioning and
Renewal of a National Asset http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/ASAA/asia-knowledge-book-v70.pdf
Asian Currents is published by the
Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) http://coombs.anu.edu.au/ASAA/
thanks to a grant from the International Centre of Excellence for Asia Pacific
Studies (ICEAPS) http://iceaps.anu.edu.au.
It is edited by Francesca Beddie. The editorial board consists of Robert Cribb,
ASAA President; Michele Ford, ASAA Secretary; Mina Roces, ASAA Publications
officer; Lenore Lyons, ASAA Council member; and Ann Kumar, Director, ICEAPS.
