The Global Forum of Japan (GFJ) E-Letter

1 April 2017, Vol. 10, No. 2

http://www.gfj.jp/e/

Greetings,

"The Global Forum of Japan (GFJ) E-Letter" is delivered electronically bimonthly, free of charge, to the readers in the world interested in Japanese thinking on the relations of Japan with the rest of the world and other related international affairs by the Global Forum of Japan (GFJ), a private membership organization in Japan for policy-oriented international exchanges.

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"GFJ Commentary" presents views of members and friends of GFJ on the relations of Japan with the rest of the world and other related international affairs. The view expressed herein is the author's own and should not be attributed to GFJ.




       2016 will become one of the memorable years in the history of humanity, because some epoch-making events occurred in succession: for instance, contrary to what most of the media had forecasted, the Brexit referendum resulted in "Leave" and the United States presidential election ended with the victory of Mr. Donald Trump.

       While there are critical voices about these phenomena as symptoms of political degradation by the raising of 'populism,' not a few people have supported them as democratic victories of common-sense of the people whom the power elite of today have ignored coldly for a long time. 

       Anyhow, most mass media tend to define 'populism' or 'anti-elitism' as nothing more than emotional antipathy or jealousy against the successful elite.  But listening to opinions of those who voted for "Leave" or for "Trump," these phenomena suggest something not to be dismissed as an emotionally-charged argument; it seems that these results give us the good opportunity to consider the problem of today's elitism. 

       In the later period of the 19th century, it was the theory of evolution that brought about revolutionary change in our view of humankind.  According to Charles Darwin, evolution of all organic beings is described as the ever-lasting process in which the fittest for the circumstances has obtained advantageous modifications naturally and can survive; Natural Selection is presumed to be a main engine for evolution of organic beings.

       This theory, on the one hand, shocked people considerably, because it could easily reach a logical conclusion that humans had also evolved from a common progenitor with apes.  On the other hand, it has been applied to other fields as a scientific model of thinking until now.

       One of them is so-called Social Darwinism; some Sociologists have attempted to apply the concept of Natural Selection, as one of laws of nature, to the human society at large.  Especially, some of advocates tried to utilize it in order to justify the status of wealthy persons and the political or social elite in the name of science.

       Social Darwinists, however, has been criticized that they conveniently have clipped some parts out of the original Darwin's logical structure and have twisted it partially.

       Guided by Darwin, the present fittest cannot be expected to be going to evolve further, since they have already fitted for the present circumstance by obtaining advantageous genetic traits in the past process of evolution.  And present or future evolution is supposed to occur among the disadvantageous beings which are unfit for the present circumstance; evolution is the process of 'break through' of unfit beings struggling for existence.

       Hence if we apply Darwin's theory of biological evolution to the human society, the fittest must not be 'the final winners' authorized by some Social Darwinists, because they are to be confronted with emergence of the new fittest who has overcome their disadvantageous conditions.

       Moreover, real dynamism of evolution in the world of nature shows us obviously that modified advantageous genes have been diffusing among majorities to a certain degree as we can distinguish them as a single species. 
 
       Nonetheless, it is regrettable that we find that the elite of today closely resemble such Social Darwinists in their thought; they positively approve a world where powers and wealth are being concentrated in the hands of the chosen few in the expanding world-wide "laissez-faire economy" and try to fix their secure places just as a logical consequence of Natural Selection.

       From what has been said above, may we say that those who have been denounced as 'populist' are probably more equitable and humane than the elite, in such a sense that the former have observant eyes to see whole of societies in perspective and are worrying sincerely about ordinary people deserted by the latter?
 
       Charles Darwin says in his work On the Origin of Species: "Although new and important modifications may not arise from reversion and analogous variation, such modifications will add to the beautiful and harmonious diversity of nature."

       Of course, there is much room for further consideration about not only the differences between Nature and human societies but also relevancy of variation or diversity to evolution.  But living in the age when the outlook of future remains unclear, we may not go the way indicated by Social Darwinists of today, but may select another way towards the well harmonized society.


(This is the English translation of an article written by KURANISHI Masako, Political Scientist, which originally appeared on the e-Forum "Giron-Hyakushutsu (Hundred Views in Full Perspective)" of GFJ on January 10, 2017, and was posted on "GFJ Commentary" as no.71 on February 23, 2017.)




For more views and opinions in the backnumber of "GFJ Commentary," the latest of which are as follows, please refer to: http://www.gfj.jp/e/commentary.htm

No.70: Internationalization of the Renminbi
        By SANADA Yukimitsu, College Faculty Member
        (19 December 2016)

No.69: A Feedback to the Trilateral Dialogue of China, Japan and South Korea
        by IKEO Aiko, Professor, Waseda University
        (31 October 2016)

No.68: Shadow of Mr. Soros Behind the Helicopter Money Debates in Japan
        by TAMURA Hideo, Journalist
        (31 August 2016)

No.67: Can The Path Really Teach About the Good Life?
        by KURANISHI Masako, Political Scientist
        (28 June 2016)

No.66: Japan Should Hold and Secure "Potential Nuclear Capability"
        by KATO Seiichi, former attorney-at-law
        (12 April 2016)

No.65: Terrorism causes prejudice and discrimination against Muslims - the collective responsibility of Muslims
        by KURANISHI Masako, Political Scientist
        (25 February 2016)




"GFJ Updates" introduces to you the latest events, announcements and/or publications of GFJ.


"The Japan-U.S. Dialogue" on "The Japan-U.S. Alliance in the Era of the Trump Administration: Crossroads or Continuity?" Held

The Global Forum of Japan (GFJ) organized "The Japan-U.S. Dialogue" on "The Japan-U.S. Alliance in the Era of the Trump Administration: Crossroads or Continuity?" in Tokyo on March 3, 2017, under the co-sponsorship by the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) of National Defense University of the U.S. and the Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR).

This "Dialogue" was attended by 101 participants including such eminent experts on the theme as follows:

From the Japanese side: KAMIYA Matake (Professor, National Defense Academy of Japan / Academic Governor, GFJ / Director and Superior Research Fellow, JFIR), NAKANISHI Hiroshi (Professor, Kyoto Univ.), WATANABE Tsuneo (Senior Research Fellow, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation), HOSOYA Yuichi (Professor, Keio Univ.), and KATO Yoichi (Senior Research Fellow, Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation).

From the U.S. side: Robert MANNING (Senior Fellow, the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, Atlantic Council), Nicholas SZECHENYI (Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Office of the Japan Chair, CSIS), James SCHOFF (Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace), and James PRZYSTUP (Senior Research Fellow, INSS).

Lively discussions were held in the two Sessions of "Prospects and Challenges of the Japan-U.S. Alliance in the Trump Era" and "What Should the Two Allies Do?"

For the Conference Papers distributed at the "Dialogue," please refer to;
http://www.gfj.jp/e/dialogue/20170303_cpe.pdf