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April 25, 2024
 

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Jan-Werner Mueller
For Jan-Werner Mueller's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, earlier this month.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 20, 2024
The zombification of American politics
Turning a party into an autocracy is a logical first step toward turning the country into one.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 30, 2022
What makes a fascist?
Parties or regimes exhibiting certain features might not be fascist today; but they could become so in predictable ways.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 7, 2022
The Jan. 6 riot and the possessive white male
In the grand scheme of things, it is tempting to interpret the far-right's rage now and on Jan. 6 as a sign that things ultimately are changing for the better as theirs is a losing battle.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 18, 2021
Austria's disgraced conservative former leader was without qualities
Kurz's fall is widely seen as having consequences beyond Austria: his approach had been touted as a model for center-right parties across Europe, especially in Germany.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 8, 2021
The far-right’s new-old war on women
Ultimately, the real problem for many on the far right is liberalism, and particularly the liberation of women from laws and social norms enforcing male domination.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2021
All quiet on the populist front?
Liberals around the world are daring to hope that there is a silver lining to the violent denouement of Donald Trump’s presidency: namely, that the inciter-in-chief’s ignominious exit from the political stage will chasten authoritarian populists elsewhere. Unfortunately, their optimism is naive.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 8, 2021
Send the right message: Remove Trump now
The violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, incited by Trump, represents something new and profane in American history.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 13, 2020
Truth and de-Trumpification
Historically, plenty of other countries' transitions from authoritarianism have been characterized by a willingness to leave former power-holders unpunished.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 4, 2020
Where is the local news about COVID-19?
There's a paucity of accurate, practical community-level information about the pandemic.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 20, 2017
How populists win when they lose
The choices made by established conservative elites, as much as the challenges posed by insurgent outsiders, determine the fate of democracy.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2016
'Illiberal democracies' trod a dangerous path
Instead of describing Europe's new authoritarian leaders as 'illiberal' we should be calling them what they really are: 'undemocratic.'
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 7, 2013
Should we outlaw hate-filled extremist parties?
The Greek government's crackdown on the country's far-right Golden Dawn party revives the vexing question of whether we should outlaw the more hateful, extremist political parties.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 20, 2013
Populism without the people
Nicolas Maduro's narrow win in Venezuela's presidential election raises an important question: Can populism thrive without a popular, charismatic leader?
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 27, 2011
Understanding the language of global protest
The protest movements that have flared up across the West, from Chile to Germany, have remained curiously undefined and under-analyzed. Some speak of them as the greatest global mobilization since 1968 — when enragés in very different countries coalesced around similar concerns. But others insist that there is nothing new here.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 28, 2010
Ethics of citizenship tests
PRINCETON, N.J. — Can citizenship really be tested? An increasing number of countries — especially, but not only, in Europe — seem to think so.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 5, 2009
The return of religion to Europe
BUDAPEST — It's a well-worn contrast: the United States is religious, Europe is secular. Yet, in some respects, this cliched opposition has actually been reversed recently: Religion played virtually no role during the last American presidential election, while in a range of different European countries major controversies about religion have flared up, suggesting that questions of faith are back at the center of European politics.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 19, 2008
Moving from Christian to Muslim democracy
BUDAPEST — This past summer, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) narrowly escaped being banned by the country's constitutional court. State prosecutors alleged that the party was trying to "Islamicize" the country and ultimately introduce theocracy. After the decision, not only did AKP supporters celebrate but those in the West who view as a prototype "Muslim Democratic" party also breathed a sigh of relief.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 25, 2007
Despite vision deficit, Europe survives
PRINCETON, New Jersey -- The celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome come at an opportune moment. For now is the time for the European Union to call an end to its self-imposed "reflection period" following the rejection of the European Constitution by the French and the Dutch, and to restart the unification process that began in Rome 50 years ago.
'Sugar Baby Riri' gets nine-year prison term over romance scam
Mai Watanabe, who went by the moniker “Sugar Baby Riri,” dated older men and swindled them out of money by telling them fictitious heartbreaking stories about herself to gain their sympathy.
Over 40% of Japan's municipalities at risk of vanishing, study finds
Of 1,729 local municipalities nationwide, 744 have been identified as being at risk of disappearing.
'So hot you can't breathe': Extreme heat hits the Philippines
A pedestrian cools himself with a folding hand fan as he waits for a ride along a road in Manila on Wednesday, as extreme heat hit the Philippines.
Tokyo issues strong warning on yen intervention as currency dips further
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks during a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on the sidelines of IMF and G20 meetings in Washington last week.
Princess Aiko makes debut at imperial garden party
Princess Aiko attends an imperial garden party in Tokyo on Tuesday.
For amateur sumo, a fresh start offers hope against time-wasting and gamesmanship
Wrestlers prepare for the start of a bout at the 2023 Sumo World Championships in Tokyo. Starting this month, placing one hand on the clay first is no longer allowed.
LDP veteran Nikai's youngest son expected to succeed him in Wakayama
Toshihiro Nikai, former secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, announced in March that he would not run in the next Lower House election to take responsibility for the political funds scandal that rocked his party and his own faction.
New workers name Shohei Ohtani as 'dream boss' for two years running
Shohei Ohtani has been overwhelmingly voted as the “dream boss” for people who started working in April, according to a survey.
A craft beer crawl through Tokyo’s top bars, brewpubs and dives
If all you drink is Asahi, Sapporo and Kirin, you're depriving yourself of some of the best craft beer Tokyo has to offer — and there sure is a lot of it out there.
'Sugar Baby Riri' gets nine-year prison term over romance scam
Mai Watanabe, who went by the moniker “Sugar Baby Riri,” dated older men and swindled them out of money by telling them fictitious heartbreaking stories about herself to gain their sympathy.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Prize winner Maki Imoto catches light with glass
Prize winner Maki Imoto catches light with glass

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