Comparative Study of Party Candidate Selection Methods

• Project/Area Number: 26380182
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Politics
• Research Institution: Gakushuin University
• Principal Investigator: Shoji Kaori 学習院大学, 法学部, 教授 (20515647)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
• Keywords: 政党候補者指名制度 / アメリカ政治 / 日本政治 / ガーナ政治 / 予備選挙 / 政党の候補者指名 / 政治的リクルートメント / アメリカの予備選挙 / 日本の政党候補者公募 / ガーナの予備選挙 / 候補者指名方法の比較 / 政党 / 候補者指名 / 政党候補者選出方法 / 候補者公募制度 / インタヴュー / ボツワナ政党政治

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using Japan, the U.S. and Ghana as case studies, this research sheds a new light on the understanding of the functioning of candidate selection methods used by political parties. The qualitative approach based on extensive in-depth interviews with key actors reveals how the actual implementation of formal institutions, such as “kobo” and primary elections, and the informal recruitment processes preceding them intertwine. The Ghanaian example specifically highlights how the nomination methods impact self-selection by potential candidates and the policy activities once the nominee becomes an MP.