Reforms and Confucian Tradition in Japanese Public Administration: Legacy Effects or/and Transformation?

[Abstract] Both explicitly and implicitly, Confucian culture is embedded in the government organizations as a fundamental organizational culture in Japan. Group orientation and hierarchical norms in Confucian thoughts well... [ view full abstract ]

[Abstract]
Both explicitly and implicitly, Confucian culture is embedded in the government organizations as a fundamental organizational culture in Japan. Group orientation and hierarchical norms in Confucian thoughts well matched the values and formation of the traditional bureaucracy when Japan encountered the modernization in late 19th century (Painter 2010). This affinity of values both in Confucian thoughts and in traditional bureaucracy reinforced each other to from the strong and rigid “bureaucratic kingdom” in Japan, and it sustained in post war period even after the deconstruction of prewar regime by the allied army (Berman et al. 2010).

This brings both functions and dysfunctions of bureaucracy. Sense of duty and strong group orientation contributes hard work and disciplined behavior among government officials (Jun and Muto 1995). Hierarchical norms enabled government to work in an efficient manner while enjoying loyalty from the citizens. In contrast, its authoritarian style has been the subject of criticism for its undemocratic character. Rigid bureaucracy cannot change the way they manage and deliver services amid changing circumstances.

Since late 1980s, many reforms are promoted in the government in Japan. Privatization of government corporations and reform of central government tried to change the structure of the government. Civil service reform tried to improve the desired capacity of the bureaucrats. Citizens’ long term involvement in policy process influenced the values in the government (Kim 2010). Change in the traditional value in society itself also affected the government as the “new generations” gradually occupy in the workplace .

The paper first overviews the existing research on the Confucian culture and public administration in Japan. It then tries to extract the possible reform measures which may affect the traditional administrative value. This paper is intended for the future surveys to identify sustain and transformation of Confucius culture in Japanese public administration ( 298 words).


[References]
Berman, Evan, M. Jae Moon and Heungsuk Choi eds. 2010. Public Administration in East Asia. CRC Press.

Kim, Soonhee. 2000. Public Trust in Government in Japan and South Korea: Does the rise of Critical Citizens Matter?” Public Administration Review 70(5) pp.801-810.

Jun, Jong and Hiromi Muto. 1995. “The Hidden Dimensions of Japanese Administration: Culuture and Its Impacts” Public Administration Review 55(2). pp.125-134.

Painter, Martin. 2010. “Legacies Remembered, Lessons Forgotten: The Case of Japan” in Guy Peters and Marin Painter eds. Tradition and Public Administration. Palgrave Macmillan. pp.84-98.

Yun, Eun Gee. 2006. “Administrative System and Culture in East Asia, Europe and the USA: A Transformation of the Administrative System through the mutual mixture of cultures in Korea” International Review of Administrative Sciences. 72(4) pp.493-516.