So I have some ideas for a timeline that includes a somewhat different postwar Japan, but I don't really know that much about Japan's politics, or the people involved, other than that the Americans played a big role in establishing a lot of the political institutions such as the constitution and the dominant political party.
Prior to their merger what difference, if any, was there between the Liberal and Democratic parties? Furthermore, how plausible would it be to prevent their merger?
Is there a good source that provides a decent overview of the various political parties that operated in post-war Japan, and the various mergers that they went through (just browsing Wikipedia I get the impression that most of the non-socialist parties would go maybe two years before merging with another)?
Likewise, is there a good overview of the Japanese labour movement during this time?
Finally, can someone give me a run-down of Japan's constitutional set-up after the war in terms of electoral system and government branches? I believe that Japan changed its electoral system in 1947 to one that favoured larger parties, which was a factor in encouraging various parties to merge during and after the occupation, but I don't know the details.
Any other useful information would be appreciated.
Prior to their merger what difference, if any, was there between the Liberal and Democratic parties? Furthermore, how plausible would it be to prevent their merger?
Is there a good source that provides a decent overview of the various political parties that operated in post-war Japan, and the various mergers that they went through (just browsing Wikipedia I get the impression that most of the non-socialist parties would go maybe two years before merging with another)?
Likewise, is there a good overview of the Japanese labour movement during this time?
Finally, can someone give me a run-down of Japan's constitutional set-up after the war in terms of electoral system and government branches? I believe that Japan changed its electoral system in 1947 to one that favoured larger parties, which was a factor in encouraging various parties to merge during and after the occupation, but I don't know the details.
Any other useful information would be appreciated.