Can a constitutional monarch influence democratic preferences? Japanese emperor and the regulation of public expression

Susumu Annaka and Gento Kato

Social Science Quarterly, 2022, vol. 103, issue 3, 699-708

Abstract: ObjectiveThis study examines whether hereditary constitutional monarchs have any influence on democratic public opinion, focusing on the case of the Japanese emperor. Methods A survey experiment on the regulation of public expression. This issue can be framed both as left wing (i.e., the regulation of hate speech) and right wing (i.e., the regulation of publicly funded anti‐nationalistic exhibitions). Taking advantage of the dual nature of the issue, we test the effects of the emperor's endorsement on support for regulation under each ideological frame. Results The (former) emperor's endorsement for freedom of expression does have a cross‐cutting effect and decreases support for regulation. This effect is relatively small but statistically significant. Additionally, the findings provide weak evidence for the emperor's own ideological position conditioning his endorsement effect. Conclusion Hereditary monarchs do influence democratic public opinion, and their influence can cross‐cut ideology.

Date: 2022
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