Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
achieve something in a pluralistic political realm the religious will have to give
way to the political, the normative to the practical. However, the compro-
mises they made had little to do with gaining political power for its own sake.
Understanding how far ideology can be stretched when it comes to the
necessity of political decision-making in this instance has to be understood
within a world where motivation is the striving for humane ideals, ideals that
in all likelihood can never be completely realised. The existence of such ideals
both at a personal and at an organisational level clearly complicates suppor-
ters
es it;
these ideals are what motivate them to become but also to stay engaged with
politics. There is no predetermined teleology that things will work out, but a
readiness to respond to the ever-changing political situation that is reality.
Yet, this does not mean that they do not have a clear political agenda; indeed,
they are clearly political actors. Their political agenda was compromised to a
larger extent during the years of coalition politics
'
deliberations about how to deal with politics rather than simpli
-
something that was reaf-
firmed in the wake of loss of power in 2009, when the party as an opposition
could yet again be more outspoken about its own ideals. Yet, it is also clear
that there is a gap between Buddhist values and how speci
c policies are
arrived at; without it Komeito, particularly in terms of foreign policy, would
remain a fundamentally micro-level party.
Political pragmatism turns out to be something that is not mutually exclu-
sive of ideals. Rather, it presents an
'
'
. This stance,
while always by nature precarious, became problematic in relation to the
Japanese government
attitude of engagement
'
-
British-led invasion of Iraq in
2003. These events posed profound dilemmas for Soka Gakkai members
s endorsement of the US
'
pursuit of peace at the collective level, something for which they supported
Komeito. The gaps between religious ideals and the political reality aug-
mented Komeito
s acute impasse as a coalition partner to a bigger party
determined to support the USA as part of the Japan
'
US Security Alliance.
Komeito and its supporters were faced with the reality of being part of the
government, which altered the position it would otherwise have taken had it
been in opposition. The dilemmas supporters faced were complex as they
tried to assess the party
-
s handling of this serious issue. Their feelings toward
their mentor, Ikeda Daisaku, played an important role in their
'
final decision
either to continue or to stop their support for Komeito. The typical inter-
pretation of the e
ect of religious leadership on political action as one of
authority is, however, also in question. We see the inherently contradicting
process of being committed to change, a commitment that goes as far as
actively supporting a political party, coupled moreover with the dilemmas
faced by those who see themselves as a movement for peace. What does one
do if one is committed to and understands the necessity of collective political
action, if one is to hope to e
icting
process of wider political reality? The attitude of engagement and the position
of Komeito in government did not allow for the safer but arguably more futile
position of more simply proclaiming high ideals.
ect change while facing the inherently con
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search