The State of Civil Society in Japan

Description

This survey about associational life and the public sphere brings the study of civil society in Japan into the mainstream of the Western literature on the subject. Its importance thus lies not only in deepening our understanding of Japan, but of civil society generally.

'This impressive and wide-ranging collection of essays explores the problems and potential of Japan's increasingly robust civil society ... The scope and high quality of the 15 chapters make this an important and rewarding book with wide appeal.' The Japan Times 'The contributors' insistence on analyzing the interplay between the state and civil society, rather than studying the spheres in isolation, is a valuable framework ... the book is a major step toward understanding the complexity of Japan's civil society, especially the interplay of society and the state.' The Asahi Shimbun