Democratization and Democratic Practice of Japan’s Local Government: A Review

Abstract

Local government refers to a political subdivision of a nation or state. It should be constituted by law. Generally local government units have substantial control of local affairs including the power to impose taxes, carry on the local development activities etc. The governing or administrative body of such a local entity should be either elected or locally selected. There are five features of an effective and democratic local government. First one is that democratic local government should be the lower level of government closest to the local people. Second one is that democratic local government should play the prime role of representing the local people’s demand and idea in the particular area of the country. Third one is that democratic local government should have a legal basis and local leaders should be elected from the vote of eligible local voters according to relevant acts and ordinances. Fourth one is that democratic local government should spend locally raised money according to the demand of local development activities and in line with the relevant legal provisions. Fifth and an important one is that democratic local government should be the basic political institution of practicing democracy in a country. It should demand and interest of local people and accumulate those democratically. Among the Asian countries, Japan has the most effective and democratic local government.