Providing Security
Nonetheless, such economic growth would not have been possible if not for the security alliance with the US. Always faced with the Soviet threat, US-aligned policy served as the basis for national security, providing the necessary environment and resources for economic growth.
Such achievement owns to the LDP’s consistent stance towards maintaining the alliance whereas opposition parties like the Socialists pursued its idealistic dream of neutrality.
Remember, this is a country that once followed a disastrous path during WW2, making the people cautious towards any adventurism.
Eventually, history proved the LDP’s pragmatic approach to be correct, with the collapse of the Eastern bloc in the late 1980s.
So, it is safe to say that the LDP managed to drive Japan through the turbulence of world politics whilst achieving rapid economic growth, something most people acknowledge to this day.
Indeed, these accomplishments are dwarfed by the recent three decades of economic stagnation, but when the other party do not appear to have the same level of experience or achievement, the constituents may use the past as reference for their decision.
Further exacerbating this tendency is the failure of the aforementioned DPJ regime, making the voters prefer the status quo rather than gamble on an uncertain future.
The “Catch-All” Party
Another point which is often overlooked is the LDP’s political nature.
Contrary to its image, the LDP is rather diverse in its political spectrum with hawkish conservatives on one side and liberal reformists on the other.
Such ideological inclusiveness enables “mass appeal” where it is possible to tackle nearly every issue and thus attracting voters among various sectors.
Though being conservative in nature, the party has demonstrated flexibility in advocating “liberal” agendas – the push for wage increase, labor reform, gender equality and new legislation for the LGBT minority being recent examples.
Normally, these initiatives would have been the leftist oppositions’ speciality, but the LDP has shrewdly used their flexibility, rich experience, and vast connections to cherry-pick and carry out such appealing policies.
Basically, the LDP is capable in performing as the “catch-all party” – satisfying rural and urban voters, elite and non-elite classes, conservatives and slightly liberal moderates alike.
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