The Transformation of the Japanese State in an Era of Governance - A Case Study of the Evolving Regulatory Framework - Dissertation

Aug 30, 2026

Examines how Japan’s regulatory framework has evolved while the state’s governance arrangements changed across key sectors. Using a doctoral case-study approach, it analyzes relationships among the core executive, private-sector-driven regulation, and independent regulators, alongside institutional development and path dependence. The study also considers how capacity and elite interactions shape regulatory outcomes, with attention to challenges facing Japan and the implications for state transformation. Comparative concepts from governance literature guide interpretation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPaper Templates

FormatDOCX

Pages382

Reading Time2 h 14 min

AccessFree to download

Chapter 1 Introduction

Interest in the developed state and regulation

The framework and the core theme

The proposition and research questions

The structure of the thesis

Chapter 2 The Development of the Japanese State

The developmental state

The pluralist approach

Rational choice

Conclusion

Chapter 3 The Change of Governance and Institutions

Challenges to the state

Approaches to governance: the core executive and the regulatory state

Explaining change: institutional changes and path dependency

Conclusion

Chapter 4 Methodology

A critical realist position

Qualitative research methods

Case study selection

Operationalisation

Chapter 5 The Evolving ICT Sector and the Transformed State

The development of Japan’s ICT sector and the involvement of the core executive

The embeddedness of the independent regulator and the evolution of regulation

Hollowing out or reconstituted? The capacity of the core executive

Conclusion

The Transformation of the Japanese State in an Era of Governance: A Case Study of the Evolving Regulatory Framework Masahiro MOGAKI Department of Politics The University of Sheffield A Dissertation submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy March 2013 Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741323" Contents PAGEREF _Toc349741323 \h i HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741324" Acknowledgements PAGEREF _Toc349741324 \h iv HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741325" Abstract PAGEREF _Toc349741325 \h v HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741326" Abbreviation PAGEREF _Toc349741326 \h vi HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741327" Chapter 1 Introduction PAGEREF _Toc349741327 \h 1 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741328" 1.1 Interest in the developed state and regulation PAGEREF _Toc349741328 \h 1 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741329" 1.2 The framework and the core theme PAGEREF _Toc349741329 \h 2 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741330" 1.3 The proposition and research questions PAGEREF _Toc349741330 \h 8 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741331" 1.4 The structure of the thesis PAGEREF _Toc349741331 \h 10 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741332" Chapter 2 The Development of the Japanese State PAGEREF _Toc349741332 \h 13 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741333" 2.1 Introduction PAGEREF _Toc349741333 \h 13 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741334" 2.2 The developmental state PAGEREF _Toc349741334 \h 16 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741335" 2.3 The pluralist approach PAGEREF _Toc349741335 \h 21 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741336" 2.3.1 The role of party politicians PAGEREF _Toc349741336 \h 21 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741337" 2.3.2 Strong business PAGEREF _Toc349741337 \h 27 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741338" 2.3.3 The regulation dominated by the private sector: self-regulation PAGEREF _Toc349741338 \h 32 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741339" 2.4 The revisited strong state thesis PAGEREF _Toc349741339 \h 34 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741340" 2.5 Rational choice PAGEREF _Toc349741340 \h 40 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741341" 2.6 Challenges to Japan and its transformation PAGEREF _Toc349741341 \h 46 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741342" 2.7 Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc349741342 \h 59 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741343" Chapter 3 The Change of Governance and Institutions PAGEREF _Toc349741343 \h 65 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741344" 3.1 Introduction PAGEREF _Toc349741344 \h 65 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741345" 3.2 Challenges to the state PAGEREF _Toc349741345 \h 68 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741346" 3.3 The evolution of the governance literature: debating governance PAGEREF _Toc349741346 \h 74 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741347" 3.4 Approaches to governance: the core executive and the regulatory state PAGEREF _Toc349741347 \h 78 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741348" 3.4.1 The core executive PAGEREF _Toc349741348 \h 78 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741349" 3.4.2 The regulatory state PAGEREF _Toc349741349 \h 90 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741350" 3.4.3 An example of the regulatory state 1: the United Kingdom PAGEREF _Toc349741350 \h 95 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741351" 3.4.4 An example of the regulatory state 2: New Zealand PAGEREF _Toc349741351 \h 98 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741352" 3.4.5 The summary of the two key concepts PAGEREF _Toc349741352 \h 103 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741353" 3.5 Explaining change: institutional changes and path dependency PAGEREF _Toc349741353 \h 105 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741354" 3.5.1 Path dependency PAGEREF _Toc349741354 \h 107 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741355" 3.5.2 The change of institutions: endogenous adaptation PAGEREF _Toc349741355 \h 112 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741356" 3.6 Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc349741356 \h 117 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741357" Chapter 4 Methodology PAGEREF _Toc349741357 \h 123 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741358" 4.1 Introduction PAGEREF _Toc349741358 \h 123 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc349741359" 4.2 A critical realist position PAGEREF _Toc349741359 \h 124 HYPERLINK

FAQs

What is the core research focus of the dissertation?

It focuses on how Japan’s regulatory framework transforms in an era of governance, analyzed through the evolving relationship between the state, regulators, and sector actors.

Which governance elements are emphasized in explaining regulatory change?

The dissertation highlights the core executive, the regulatory state, independent regulators, and how institutional change and path dependence explain developments over time.

How does the study investigate its case?

It uses qualitative research methods supported by a critical realist position, including elite interviewing and document analysis, with a structured approach to operationalisation and case study selection.

Aug 30, 2026

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