news for russian and japan
kristen (country girl, also in history class)
	putin appointed by previous, now appoints governors, part of united russia party
	gobs of corruption in police and politics (eg.draft)
	russia trying to reestablish power, new icbm, supplies weapons to hostile governments
	fun stuff in georgia is russia testing political waters
dude in the back in the middle
	new prime minister in japan, war on terror, economic recovery
	strengthen relations with america, surrounding countries
	new budget as part of new economic package
	just appointed ex speed skater as foreign state secretary, former PM announced retirement and announced son as successor

japan
background
feudal history
Meiji restoration 1868
	domestic process, power restored to emperor
	key figure for international identity
militarism
	military now stronger, better funded
	begins expansionist phase
constitution 1898
	elections
	political parties
	army not accountable to elected representatives
	nearly global suffrage
	
1932 PM
	assassinated for opinions on expansionism
1936 attempted coup d'etat
	within military
	allowed military to claim more power and control
greater east asian co-prosperity sphere
	what japan called its conquests in asia
WWII
	
institutions
pacifism article 9 - 3 parts
	demobilizing military
	removal of priority of military in education and political power
	land reforms and redistribution
executive
	head of state is emperor, mostly symbolic, appoints chief justice upon cabinet designation
	head of government is PM, depends on majority in house of reps
diet
	house of reps, more powerful, direct elections, alternating schedule
	house of councillors, can amend bills, veto, but can be overridden
supreme court
	judicial review
	selected by cabinet and confirmed by popular vote, except chief exec
parties
	not really any parties in prewar period
	now major party politics, leading party tends to keep power
	currently LDP - lib dems, centrist, liberal as in less government
	uses FPTP system, favors two party dynamic
	JDP is currently the minor party, has majority in house of councillors, also rather centrist
	party factions that maintain a united front, lots of negotiation within behind closed doors
	
US and others hold on to some minor territories until the 70's, but japan is mostly free by 50's

1980's success story
culture
	industrious
	respect for bosses
infrastructure
	relatively new
	good portion was physically destroyed
reconstruction aid
	lots of $$ pouring in, esp as cold war unfolds
war trade
	good for military bases during cold war
	things cheaper if you can make them in japan and ship them to asia
military spending
	no standing military
	all money goes to non-military items
	japan has renounced war completely
	pacifist
tax burden
	much less, no military spending
	high japanese savings rate
	understood that children will take care of elders
	
1990s earthquakes
	economic
	political
	new parties