Nikkeiren and Japanese Capitalism

Description

From its formation in 1948 to its merger with Keidanren in 2002, this book provides a comprehensive history of Nikkeiren Using the different periods of postwar Japanese capitalism as a context, the author carefully traces the history of Nikkeiren. Up until 1960 the association led Japanese employers in the campaign to win back 'the right to manage', which had been lost in the chaotic aftermath of Japan's defeat in World War II. Nikkeiren achieved this by forging solidarity between employers in order to win a succession of bitterly fought labour disputes where the objective was not merely to defeat but to annihilate militant unions. Subsequently, Nikkeiren switched its emphasis to manipulation of the workforce and to a mutually advantageous trade-off with the leaders of increasingly enterprise-orientated unions. The group also put a great amount of effort into generating a mystifying ideology. Largely based on Japanese sources, this is the first comprehensive study of Nikkeiren to appear in English. In addition to providing a detailed empirical account of Nikkeiren's organization and activity, this book throws light on the nature and function of class power, the inherent tendency of unions to collaborate with capitalist institutions and the limitations of capitalism as a mode of production. As a result, Crump suggests that coercive class power, manipulation and mystification are not comfined to Japan, but are inevitable features of capitalism everywhere.

John Crump was formerly Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Stirling and Director of the Scottish Centre for Japanese Studies. He has now retired and lives in Scotland.

'I consider this book to be a well-researched and informative study, which is a valuable contribtuion to an understanding of Japanese capitalism and capital-labour relations in Japan.' - Japanese Studies