Thursday 26 April – Wednesday 20 April 2011
Electoral Systems and Party Politics in the UK and Japan
Daiwa Foundation Japan House
Organised by the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation in association with the Japan Society
During and after the next general election in the UK, there could well be renewed public attention given to electoral systems for parliamentary elections. In Japan, electoral system reform has reduced previous large discrepancies but urban areas remain relatively under-represented.
There has also been a considerable amount of international interest in Japan’s complex electoral systems for the House of Representatives and House of Councillors, with some members being elected for single seats on a first-past-the-post system and others being nominated by parties using a proportional representation system.
This seminar looked at electoral systems in the UK and Japan and the role they play in influencing politics in both countries.
About the contributors
Professor J A A Stockwin
J A A Stockwin is Emeritus Fellow of St. Antony’s College and the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies, University of Oxford. His recent publications include: ‘Dictionary of the Modern Politics of Japan’ (2003) and ‘Collected Writings of J.A.A. Stockwin’ (2004). Professor Stockwin is General Editor of the Nissan Institute/Routledge Japanese Studies series. In 2004, he received The Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese Government in recognition of his tireless efforts to promote Japanese Studies in the UK.
Peter Wardle
Peter Wardle has been the Chief Executive of The Electoral Commission since 2004. Before joining the Commission, Mr Wardle had a career in the civil service, which included roles as Director of Strategy and Planning for the Inland Revenue and Director of Corporate Services for the Cabinet Office.
Professor Anthony King
Anthony King (chair) has been Professor of Government at Essex since 1969. His books include ‘SDP: The Birth, Life and Death of the Social Democratic Party’ (with Ivor Crewe), ‘Running Scared: Why America’s Politicians Campaign Too Much and Govern Too Little’ and ‘Does the United Kingdom Still Have a Constitution?’ (the 2000 Hamlyn Lectures). He served between 1994 and 1998 on the Committee on Standards in Public Life (the Nolan Committee, latterly the Neill Committee) and in 1999-2000 served on the Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords.