In January 2025, the Encyclopedia of Comparative Politics, which includes contributions by Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on “political culture” and “democracy support,” was published by Maruzen Publishing. This encyclopedia is the first of its kind in Japan, offering concise, two-page explanations of key concepts in comparative politics written by leading experts in the field. In her entry on “political culture,” Professor Ichihara provides an overview of its defining features and highlights Max Weber’s work as a classical text that has significantly influenced discussions on political culture. She also offers a detailed account of the “civic culture approach,” a major framework within political culture argument, while addressing both the utility and limitations of this perspective. In the section on “democracy support,” she explains the means and content of democracy support, along with the actors involved in its implementation. Additionally, she traces the historical development of democracy support and discusses the concept of “defending democracy” in the context of the “democratic recession” that has become increasingly apparent since the 2000s.

https://www.maruzen-publishing.co.jp/item/b306059.html