Following the election of Fumio Kishida as Japan's prime minister, Professor Daniel Smith contextualized his ascension in The Washington Post. Although Kishida pledged a "regenerated" Liberal Democratic Party, Smith writes, "one of the ironies of Japanese politics . . . is that 'generational change' in the LDP often means the sons, grandsons and other relatives of outgoing politicians step in to replace them. Kishida is a prime example--his father and grandfather were also lawmakers."
Smith's research investigates why dynasties dominate political leadership in Japan and elsewhere around the world. Please click here to read the op-ed.
