Cambridge Scholars Publishing The Crisis of Democracy? Chances, Risks and Challenges in Japan (Asia) and Germany (Europe)

“Is democracy in crisis?” Against the background of a visible loss of trust in political, economic, religious and other institutions in Japan and Germany, this question is being posed with increasing urgency. This volume brings together contributions from political sciences, sociology, economics, psychology, history, law, and educational science to shed light on the future of our democracies, economies, educational systems, party politics, national policies, and social-structural changes, as well as socialization in the family and school, and related value changes. By focusing on Japan and Germany, and including examples from Western Europe and East Asia, this publication will determine transnational tendencies and provide an understanding of the different consequences of development from country to country against the background of different historical-cultural traditions and institutional realities. About the Author Carmen Schmidt is Professor of Political Sociology and Speaker of the Japan Research Center at the School of Cultural Studies and Social Sciences of Osnabrück University, Germany. She has held teaching and research appointments at various universities in Europe and East Asia. Her research specialization is in the field of social change and the transformation of political systems from a comparative perspective. Ralf Kleinfeld is retired Professor of Comparative Politics and Co-Speaker of the Japan Research Center at the School of Cultural Studies and Social Sciences of Osnabrück University, Germany. His research specialization is in the field of organized interests, varieties of sub-national governance and the transformation of political systems in a comparative perspective.