The Origins of Conservatism in Japan, with a focus on Fukuchi Genichiro

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K03549
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Politics
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan University
• Principal Investigator: Kono Yuri 首都大学東京, 法学政治学研究科, 教授 (50526465)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 保守主義 / 演劇的熟議 / 史論 / 演劇改良 / 自由民権運動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I will examine the thought of the famous Meiji-era journalist Fukuchi Genichiro, particularly from the perspective of conservatism. I would like to analyze this issue with emphasis on the following. First of all, I would like to focus on the history of the Meiji period, not on the concepts of E. Burke and others of Western origin. Returning to the target context, I reexamine the concept of "conservatism".
And secondly, not just as a lexical study, but as a "conservative" study of political parties, intellectual communities, and local organizations. I will also analyze the actual conditions and interactions of the networks that support the "conservative" ideology of the Meiji era.
Thirdly, the "conservative" ideology of the Meiji period as a historical subject will be turned into the normative political theory of the same period. Consider the possible implications of this as a deliberative democracy.

Free Research Field

日本政治思想史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来、日本政治研究における「保守」概念は、戦後においては特定の政党支持の問題として、戦前においては漠然とした「支配層」「体制」寄りないし特定の思想家の継受の問題として片づけられてきた。本研究がなしうる最大の貢献は、「保守」概念を、政治的熟議を支えるエトスに関わるという意味で規範的な議論の場においても、また操作化可能性が求められる実証の場においても、通用するようなものとして研ぎ直すことである。