The Politics of Symbolization: Constructivist Developments in Political Communication Research

2023/01/27

Keio University possesses several excellent symbols. The founder, Master "Yukichi Fukuzawa"; "Wakaki-chi", which lifts one's spirits the more it is sung; the "Sanshokuki", which gives a more sophisticated impression than any other university flag; and "The Pen Mark", which represents the spirit of fighting through speech with the motto 'The pen is mightier than the sword.' Above all, the name "Keio University" itself, which encapsulates the image of the 'leader of private schools' that Keio University alumni have built up over many years.

These symbols encourage awareness of being a member of the Juku, foster affection, and instill pride. Furthermore, everyone associated with the Juku can transcend differences in hometown, gender, occupation, and age to become comrades who share a great founder and a proud name.

It has long been known that symbols, which act like an adhesive connecting people, are essential for group integration and unity. It is believed that only those groups that have succeeded in creating and sharing effective symbols to inspire unity have survived and enjoyed prosperity.

American philosopher Susanne Langer argued that humans have a fundamental desire to transform their experiences into symbols. Starting from this concept of the "need for symbolization" as named by Langer, this book, "The Politics of Symbolization," attempts to develop that idea within the field of political science.

The theory of political symbols was a theme that Charles Merriam, often called the "father of modern political science," was quick to notice, and it has been known in the field of political science for a long time. However, as modern political science progressed toward scientification and specialization, it has been left largely unaddressed.

As a specialist in political communication research and media sociology, the author wrote this book out of the belief that "The Politics of Symbolization"—which explores in detail the process by which "strong symbols" are socially produced, incorporated into the political sphere, and utilized as effective resources in today's media society—is extremely important.

This is a book that I would highly recommend to all Keio University alumni who are full of love for the Juku.

The Politics of Symbolization: Constructivist Developments in Political Communication Research

Masayuki Karasudani

Shinyosha

336 pages, 3,520 yen (tax included)

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.