Japan's Pacifist Constitution NYT [others]
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan is pushing for an expanded role for the Japanese military that would allow it to fight alongside allies beyond the country’s territory. He seeks to shoulder greater global security responsibilities by what he calls proactive pacifism.
But he faces a major hurdle. Article 9 of the Constitution, which has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year, states the Japanese people “forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation.” Mr. Abe’s aim to change the powers of the military would require a constitutional revision, which would mean winning two-thirds approval in both houses of Parliament, followed by a referendum — a very tall order. So instead, Mr. Abe seeks to void Article 9 by having the government reinterpret the Constitution. Such an act would completely undermine the democratic process.
Mr. Abe’s highest political goal is to replace the Constitution written and imposed upon the Japanese by the American Army following World War II. For 67 years, not a single word has been amended. Mr. Abe strongly feels that the Constitution imposes an onerous restriction on Japanese sovereignty and is outdated. Still, as critics point out, he should know that the Constitution’s primary function is to check government power. It is not something that can be altered by the whim of government. Otherwise, there is no reason to bother with having a constitution at all.
As things stand, only the New Komeito Party, the junior coalition member of the government with a deep pacifist bent, could inhibit Mr. Abe’s ambition. Without New Komeito, the prime minister’s government loses its majority in the upper house, so Mr. Abe is doing his utmost to come up with a way toward a constitutional reinterpretation acceptable to New Komeito. The other eight opposition parties are in disarray. Mr. Abe has a strong hand, and Japan is facing a genuine test of its democracy.
内田樹氏による解説＆翻訳
But he faces a major hurdle. Article 9 of the Constitution, which has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year, states the Japanese people “forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation.” Mr. Abe’s aim to change the powers of the military would require a constitutional revision, which would mean winning two-thirds approval in both houses of Parliament, followed by a referendum — a very tall order. So instead, Mr. Abe seeks to void Article 9 by having the government reinterpret the Constitution. Such an act would completely undermine the democratic process.
Mr. Abe’s highest political goal is to replace the Constitution written and imposed upon the Japanese by the American Army following World War II. For 67 years, not a single word has been amended. Mr. Abe strongly feels that the Constitution imposes an onerous restriction on Japanese sovereignty and is outdated. Still, as critics point out, he should know that the Constitution’s primary function is to check government power. It is not something that can be altered by the whim of government. Otherwise, there is no reason to bother with having a constitution at all.
As things stand, only the New Komeito Party, the junior coalition member of the government with a deep pacifist bent, could inhibit Mr. Abe’s ambition. Without New Komeito, the prime minister’s government loses its majority in the upper house, so Mr. Abe is doing his utmost to come up with a way toward a constitutional reinterpretation acceptable to New Komeito. The other eight opposition parties are in disarray. Mr. Abe has a strong hand, and Japan is facing a genuine test of its democracy.
内田樹氏による解説＆翻訳
