The Political Project of the Ruling Rikkendōshi-kai Party from Its Origin to Self-Dissolution: Ideological Essence and Reasons for Fragility

The Rikkendōshi-kai party, founded in 1913, became the ruling party after winning 1915 parliamentary election and Prime Minister Ōkuma Shigenobu joined it. In historiography, process of emergence, as well this party’s cabinet, is limited to an exclusively positive statement fact existence such government, which midst World War I was replaced by a “technical” non-party cabinet. problem deep reasons for emergence unexpected power not only unstudied but even posed available publications. During government Association Allies Constitution effectively pursued domestic political liberalization policy (property electoral qualification reduced) active external imperial expansion (particularly China). Despite undeniable achievements, Ōkuma’s single-party Cabinet did rely on stable majority parliament. Thus, October 1916 dismissed ceased exist. Problem chronological analysis method factual material allows claim that main reason self-dissolution “The Constitution” lack experience then Japanese tradition forming multiparty coalition governments. politicians learned their lessons from Rikkendoshi-kai’s bitter experience. key one conditions absence unambiguously dominant parliament reliable support should become inter-party coalitions, formed basis ideological personnel compromises. However, idea implemented 1924, when, first time its history, true “Cabinet Three Parties Defend Сonstitution” (Goken sampa naikaku) led Japan.