Japanese Literary Awards

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Shigeki Uno

うの しげき

Uno Shigeki

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1967-06-13 （Shimane Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Political scientist, University professor
Active Years
1996-
Affiliations
Chiba University, Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo, NIRA (National Institute for Research Advancement) - Board Member
Influenced By
Alexis de Tocqueville, Masaya Kobayashi
Influenced
Tetsuki Tamura

Education

University of Tokyo
Faculty of Law / Law
Period: 1987-1991
Year of Graduation: 1991
Country: Japan
Graduate School of Law and Politics, University of Tokyo
Graduate School (Law and Politics) / Law
Degree: 博士（法学）
Period: 1991-1996
Year of Graduation: 1996
Country: Japan
Ph.D. in Law (1996)

Awards

Shibusawa & Claudel Prize (LVJ Special Prize)
2005
Work: Towards Political Philosophy
Category: LVJ特別賞
Organization: Japan-France Friendship Foundation
Result: winner
Suntory Academic Prize
2007
Work: Tocqueville — Theorist of Equality and Inequality
Category: 思想・歴史部門
Organization: Suntory Foundation
Result: winner
Ishibashi Tanzan Prize
2021
Work: What Is Democracy?
Organization: Ishibashi Tanzan Memorial Foundation
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Living Democracy: Rediscovering Politics in Tocqueville

1998 Political thought / Essay

An introductory study using Tocqueville's thought to explore contemporary challenges of democracy.

Tocquevilledemocracyhistory of political thought

Towards Political Philosophy: Dialogue with Contemporary France

2004 Political philosophy

A collection of essays surveying major issues in political philosophy through dialogue with contemporary French thought.

liberalismpolitical philosophypublicness

Tocqueville — Theorist of Equality and Inequality

2007 Scholarly work

A multifaceted reading of Tocqueville, re-evaluating his theory from the perspectives of equality and inequality.

Tocqueville studiesequalityinequality

How to Build Democracy

2013 Political theory

Discusses measures to cultivate democracy by considering both institutional and practical aspects.

democratic practicecivil societyinstitutional design

What Is Conservatism? — From Anti-French Revolution to Modern Japan

2016 Intellectual history

An introductory work outlining the history of conservatism and its reception in Japan.

conservatismintellectual historyJapanese politics

Bibliography

  • Living Democracy: Rediscovering Politics in Tocqueville (1998)
  • Towards Political Philosophy: Dialogue with Contemporary France (2004)
  • Tocqueville — Theorist of Equality and Inequality (2007)
  • Democracy in the 'I' Era (2010)
  • How to Build Democracy (2013)
  • Political-Philosophical Considerations: Between Liberal and Social (2016)
  • What Is Conservatism? — From Anti-French Revolution to Modern Japan (2016)
  • Beginning the Future: The Politics of Being with Others (2018)
  • What Is Democracy? (2020)
  • Believing in Democracy (2021)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Clear, analytical academic proseScholarly essays that weave sources and theory
Recurring Motifs
libertyequalitydemocracycivil society

Legacy

A highly regarded scholar in contemporary political thought and Tocqueville studies. Author of works for both academic and general audiences, influencing public debate in Japan.

Trivia

  • He is a self-described fan of the Chunichi Dragons baseball team.
  • His book 'What Is Conservatism?' ranked 6th in the 2017 Shinsho (new book) awards.