The Abe Legacy: How Japan Has Been Shaped by Abe Shinzo

The Abe Legacy: How Japan Has Been Shaped by Abe Shinzo, edited by Robert Dujarric, offers a multi-dimensional assessment of Japan’s longest-serving postwar prime minister, Abe Shinzō. From his early political missteps to a historic return to power in 2012, Abe defied expectations and reshaped Japanese politics in an era of global instability. This volume examines how Abe’s economic reforms, constitutional ambitions, and foreign policy shifts allowed him to consolidate power in a system where prime ministers rarely last more than a year. Contributors explore the strategic balancing act Abe performed: pushing forward structural change while preserving voter confidence and political control.

Essential for readers of Japanese politics, East Asian international relations, and contemporary leadership studies, this book tackles the central question: what endures from Abe’s time in office? With chapters analyzing his economic legacy, institutional influence, and ideological imprint, the collection offers a nuanced portrait of a leader who redefined Japan’s domestic agenda and global posture. Dujarric’s curation brings together perspectives that underscore the complexity and durability of Abe’s legacy in modern Japan.