Who Are the DPJ? Policy Positioning and Recruitment Strategy

This article examines where the Democratic Party of Japan situates itself vis-à-vis the Liberal Democratic Party through a novel analysis of the two parties’ election manifestos and legislative behavior. Personnel data show a gradual growth of conservative forces within the DPJ. We might expect a conservative turn in policy to have been the result, but we find that the DJP consistently places itself in a more liberal position than the LDP, especially on social issues. Although the DPJ has become a more conservative organization, our data suggest that the need for product differentiation pushes the DPJ leftward. Still, the DPJ has not yet succeeded in establishing a clear and stable party label, and this may contribute to further party dealignment.