Alex Kerr's 'Dogs and Demons' and the Problems of Contemporary Japan: A Review Note

Title
Alex Kerr's 'Dogs and Demons' and the Problems of Contemporary Japan: A Review Note
Publication Date
2003
Author(s)
Burton, TA
Dollery, BE
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Sage Publications India Pvt Ltd
Place of publication
India
DOI
10.1177/02601079X03001400305
UNE publication id
une:745
Abstract
In his controversial new book 'Dogs and Demons: The Fall of Modern Japan', Alex Kerr (2001) maintains that modern Japan represents 'a case of failed modernization' due to a deep-seated 'cultural malaise' that arises 'because of a severe mismatch between Japan's bureaucratic systems and the realities of modern life'. Kerr arguesthis thesis by means of examples drawn from the arts, culture, economics, politics and other aspects of contemporary Japan. This review note attempts to provide a critical examination of Kerr's economic arguments. We contend that he has radically overstated his case, ignored much existing critical literature on Nippon, and 'exoticised' Japanese society unnecessarily.
Link
Citation
Journal of Interdisciplinary Economics, 14(3), p. 303-310
ISSN
2321-5305
0260-1079
Start page
303
End page
310

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