Consolidation of power in Japan: The LDP and Shinzo Abe

In recent memory, there have been few Japanese political figures with Abe’s level of recognition and influence. At the same time, few Japanese politicians have been as successful or as divisive as Abe. This brief assesses the post-war domestic political climate in Japan under the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to understand how the party claimed such a firm grip on power and created a system that set the stage for Abe’s political career and rise to worldwide recognition.