THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC-PARTY IN JAPAN - CONSERVATIVE DOMINATION

This article explores the relationship of Japan's ruling party vis-a-v is other actors in the political system, such as the bureaucracy and t he business community-which have been the main pillars of conservative rule in that country for 38 years-as well as other interest groups. I t also specifies in what way the democratic processes within the rulin g party itself, and in the political system in general, have allowed, notwithstanding the prevailing ideological conservatism, Japanese soci ety to show one of the highest indexes of equality of income distribut ion in the world.