A tribute to Shinzo Abe, his leadership and legacy

Today marks the first death anniversary of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He was assassinated by a gunshot on July 8 last year while delivering a campaign speech in Nara, Japan. Abe's tragic death prompted a flood of tributes both at home and abroad. The ordinary Japanese people, his fellow party members and followers were shocked and seen tearfully laying flowers at the site of his shooting. Even the mainstream Japanese newspapers who had been critical of Abe prior to his death, remembered him as a hero. World leaders including Joe Biden Jr, Donald Trump, Malcolm Turnbill, Narendra Modi, and even, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin expressed special tributes to him and remembered him for his global leadership. Abe had been a towering political figure, the longest-serving prime minister, and one of the most conservative, right-wing politicians in post-war Japan. 

Shinzo Abe, born into a traditional political family, the son of former foreign minister Shintaro Abe and the grandson of former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, had a strong political foundation already implanted in him. Beginning as a Lower House legislator in 1993, Abe became the Chief Cabinet Secretary in 2005 under Koizumi administration. In 2006, he became the country's youngest prime minister at the age of 52 to have been born after World War II. In his first term as Prime Minister, Abe pursued a more assertive foreign policy by strengthening ties with the United States, imposing unilateral sanctions against North Korea, and pledging to revise Japan's postwar pacifist constitution. In domestic affairs, Abe pledged to reinforce the pension and health insurance systems among others. Regrettably, series of public gaffes and financial scandals embroiled his government and he stepped down in September 2007 due to health concerns.

However, the significance of Abe's political legacy became more prominent during his second term as prime minister when his party – the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) – defeated the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in the 2012 Lower House elections. In domestic politics, Abe emerged as a pragmatic realist determined to build a strong Japanese state by revising the postwar Japanese constitution, especially Article 9 which renounces Japan's participation in war. To this end, the Abe administration, despite massive protests, rammed through a set of security bills in the House of Representatives in 2015 in the name of reinterpretation of Article 9, thus, authorising the Self Defense Force (SDF) operate abroad under collective self-defense. Critics argued that revising the constitution could pave the way for a more assertive military role of Japan. They also raised concerns about a potential departure of Japan from its long-standing pacifist stance which had been a cornerstone of its post-World War II identity and a source of reassurance for its suspicious neighbours. In parliamentary affairs, Abe centralised the policy making power and control over bureaucrats in the Prime Minister's office, which, experts termed as the rise of the Prime Ministerial Executive. It had been a fundamental structural change in Japan's post-war political system significantly contributing to Abe's strong political leadership as prime minister. 

A significant aspect of Abe's legacy was his economic policy framework popularly known as Abenomics. Since assuming office in December 2012, Abe focused on revitalising Japan's economy which had already been experiencing deflation. It proposed a "three-pronged strategy" revolving around three pillars, namely, bold monetary easing, flexible fiscal policy, and structural reform measures. Despite its initial success, Abenomics encountered hurdles in achieving sustained economic growth and tackling entrenched structural issues. Critics argued that the reforms fell short in reducing public debt, attaining inflation targets, and effectively tackling income inequality. These shortcomings raised concerns about the long-term effectiveness of Abe's economic policies. His efforts faced a major challenge when the country again went into recession in the spring of 2020. Similarly, Abe's Womenomics initiative aimed to harness the economic potential of women in Japan with an aim to expand the workforce and combat gender discrimination. Although its lasting success may be limited, it remains a noteworthy aspect of Abe's tenure and highlights the government's recognition of the need to empower women in Japan's political and economic marketplace. 

Abe was proactive in his diplomatic endeavours, determined to strengthen Japan's position on the world stage. He sought to strengthen Japan's position globally and forge alliances with countries across the Indo-Pacific region, Europe and North America through economic cooperation, strategic ties and cultural exchanges. As a global leader, he prioritised strengthening of the Japan-US relations, which declined significantly during the DPJ regime. To this end, his first concrete step was to announce Japan's participation in the ongoing Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement in 2013. Abe's initiatives to joining the TPP was a milestone in cementing Japan-US ties during Obama administration, thus, bringing together the world's largest and third largest economies in a free trade agreement. This is how Abe proved himself as an unwavering ally of the United States supporting the TPP despite domestic opposition. 

Abe gained particular recognition for theorising and materialising key policy initiatives, such as, the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) in 2016 which emphasises the importance of an inclusive, rules-based approach to regional affairs, and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue in 2017. Abe's vision for a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" was reinforced by a comprehensive strategy encompassing strengthened diplomatic engagements, promoting development initiatives, enhancing infrastructure and connectivity boosted by shared values, cooperation and stability in the region. 

In South Asia, Abe cultivated a strong relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, based on shared concerns regarding the rise of China elevating Japan-India ties to special height. Even Japan's relationship with Bangladesh took a turning point during Abe's second term elevating the traditional friendly relationship to Comprehensive Partnership in 2014 which has recently been elevated to a Strategic Partnership (April, 2023). In fact, Abe exemplified a steadfast commitment to enhance Japan's global standing by fostering regional stability, promoting economic cooperation and enhancing cultural exchange.

It is true that the entire regime of Shinzo Abe was dogged by several corruption scandals. His initiatives to pass the "anti-conspiracy" bill in 2017 drew wider domestic criticism. He was also criticised for his historical revisionism, especially his efforts to alter school textbooks and his stand for the comfort women issue. Abe adopted a less apologetic stance towards Japan's WWII actions and was of the view that future generations should not be blamed for past mistakes. Nonetheless, he demonstrated political courage by recognising the historical tensions and engaging in bilateral negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable resolution.

His resignation on August 28, 2020 triggered an internal power struggle within the LDP. Eventually, Yoshihide Suga, a longtime ally of Abe, assumed the position of Prime Minister and Abe's influence in Japanese domestic politics still continued, and remained significant, even, under the current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Apparently, Abe's assassination left a power vacuum in the ruling LDP. However, the recent power struggle in the LDP factions shows the waning influence of Abe faction, thus, strengthening Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's position in the LDP in terms of power balance.

In 2006, Shinzo Abe, for the first time, became the Prime Minister of Japan and dreamed of a "beautiful Japan" (UtsukushiiKuni E, Toward a Beautiful Country) which would be full of vitality, opportunity and compassion. His sudden resignation in 2007 left his dreams unachieved. He had a remarkable comeback in December 2012 and assured Japan by saying that "I will be a fire, burning with all the political strength I can muster…" Truly, Abe burnt his life for Japan. It is his undeniable charisma, dedication and remarkable political aptitude that will give him a lasting place in Japanese minds and beyond.  

Dr SM Ali Reza is a Professor of Political Science, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Currently he is a Japan Foundation Fellow at Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan. He can be reached at reza.namirah@du.ac.bd