Rise of political parties

Greater public participation in politics

Cultural openness and modernisation

The military remained independent and powerful

Political corruption and weak party leadership

Inflation

Rural poverty

Collapse of the democracy→rise of militarism

The military still had special privileges, with only military leaders able to serve as ministers of the army or navy→ gaining veto power over cabinets.

Political parties relied on support from Zaibatsu and often were involved in bribery and corruption.

Economic problems from the great depression

Peace Prservation Law→ The government feared socialism and communism, so it passed laws to suppress critics the left-wing groups

Universal Male suffrage

Shigehara Diplomacy→ Japan wants to maintain a good relationship with Western countries while benefiting economically from trade and diplomacy.

International agreements

Growth of social movements → Industrialization created an urban working class and tenant farmers who demanded better rights and living conditions.

Formation of Communist Parties

Destabilized politics due to public participation (eg. resignation of Katsura Taro) → likely that other fields will be unstable as well

The military had great authority, causing the Manchurian Invasion in 1931

Suppressed oppositions by the Peace Preservation Law in 1925

Education promoted militarism and nationalism

Rise of political parties

(Rikkenseiyukai, Kenseikai)

Increased trend of party cabinet

Universal Male Suffrage (1925)

Power still held by elites (genro, Zaibatsu, etc.)

political parties were weak

suppression by the Peace Preservation Law

Military independence