Dinara Khalelova
Officials of Japan’s Ministry of Defense was planning to propose to the Diet corrections for the decision making structure of the Ministry of Defense. Their main aim was to make Self-Defense Force officers on equal footing with their civilian bureaucratic counterparts. This amendment gives civilians greater control over Self Defense Force (SDF). According to the Japan Times (2015), initiative was given from SDF personnel as well as former members who are now Diet lawmakers.
Simply, by this reform the chiefs of staff of the SDF branches will support the minister as equals to the director-general of ministry bureaus and the director-general of the Minister’s Secretariat. Also, SDF units assigned to respond to a contingency will be able to report directly to the minister and the minister can instruct SDF units directly through the chief of staff of each SDF branch (The Japan Times, 2015).
There are two types of control, according to Huntington (1957). First one is subjective civilian control, where professionalism of military is maximized, and decreases the control of civilians. Second type of civilian control is subjective, it is instead maximizes power of civilians by governmental institutions, social class, and constitutional form. However, Huntington prefers objective control over subjective. Because, as it was said above, objective civilian control maximizes military professionalism.
This shows that Japan`s Ministry of Defense is trying to reinforce the power of the subjective civilian control. Despite the fact that the objective civilian control is more beneficial for the state military. Japan`s amendment allows to uniformed officers to directly participate in works of the ministry.
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http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/02/22/national/defense-ministry-seeks-to-reduce-civilian-control/#.WPnui_l97AU
Huntington, Samuel P. 1957. The Soldier and the State the Theory and Politics of Civil Military Relations. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Officials of Japan’s Ministry of Defense was planning to propose to the Diet corrections for the decision making structure of the Ministry of Defense. Their main aim was to make Self-Defense Force officers on equal footing with their civilian bureaucratic counterparts. This amendment gives civilians greater control over Self Defense Force (SDF). According to the Japan Times (2015), initiative was given from SDF personnel as well as former members who are now Diet lawmakers.
Simply, by this reform the chiefs of staff of the SDF branches will support the minister as equals to the director-general of ministry bureaus and the director-general of the Minister’s Secretariat. Also, SDF units assigned to respond to a contingency will be able to report directly to the minister and the minister can instruct SDF units directly through the chief of staff of each SDF branch (The Japan Times, 2015).
There are two types of control, according to Huntington (1957). First one is subjective civilian control, where professionalism of military is maximized, and decreases the control of civilians. Second type of civilian control is subjective, it is instead maximizes power of civilians by governmental institutions, social class, and constitutional form. However, Huntington prefers objective control over subjective. Because, as it was said above, objective civilian control maximizes military professionalism.
This shows that Japan`s Ministry of Defense is trying to reinforce the power of the subjective civilian control. Despite the fact that the objective civilian control is more beneficial for the state military. Japan`s amendment allows to uniformed officers to directly participate in works of the ministry.
______________
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/02/22/national/defense-ministry-seeks-to-reduce-civilian-control/#.WPnui_l97AU
Huntington, Samuel P. 1957. The Soldier and the State the Theory and Politics of Civil Military Relations. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
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