| Abstract: | Japan is an international giant in economic and industrial terms but remains an insular nation in some other respects, perhaps as a result of a tendency towards requiring its politicians to build a high level of consensus on issues where attitudes and opinions are strongly polarised. The Liberal Democratic Party returned to power in the December 2012 general election, committed to kick-starting the economy with more aggressive spending and monetary policies; there is also speculation that it may prove a more nationalistic government at a time of greater tension in the Japan/China relationship, although so far it is pursuing pragmatism rather than confrontation |
