International Symposium "Views from the Social Democratic Party of Germany, the Democratic Party of Japan, and US Parties on the topic of Globalization and Inequality"

Rapid globalization and social and economic inequality have become fiercly debated issues in many industrialized countries. In Japan, recent structural reforms unter the cabinet of Junichiro Koizumi have led to more market-oriented policies, but they have also heightened regional, economic and social inequalities. Japan’s Democratic Party as well as the other smaller opposition parties are currently struggling to find new answers to these problems. In which are issues of globalization, liberalization, and inequality currently being discussed in other industrialized countries, and how are policy makers tackling these issues? Reflecting on the current situation in Japan, we will discuss how policy makers in Germany and the United States are addressing such problems in their political agendas and election campaigns. In this respect, recent political developments in both countries are noteworthy: In October last year, Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) adopted new policy guidelines in its Hamburg Program. In the United States, the Democratic Party is busily preparing itself for the next presidential election in November this year.

Date: Wednesday, 26 March 2008, 14:00 - 17:00
Place: Conference Hall Shinsenzankan of Japan Women’s University
Language: Simultaneous translation in English and Japanese

Organized by:
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)
Economic Policy Institute for Quality of Life (Seikatsu-ken)