In the Philippines, a Catholic social movement for local development and broad structural transformation, referred to as Basic Ecclesial Communities, offers a counter-narrative to state development. Predicated on the power of networked local groups, the Diocese of San Carlos has taken the original concept and rescaled it, operating a variety of social-action programmes at the diocese level. The focus of this paper is a unique partnership between the diocese and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which has produced a number of measurable positive changes in under-serviced areas. We remain uncertain, however, about the extent to which the church is cooperating with, or being co-opted by, the military as it enters into partnership, and many members of the clergy share our scepticism. In this paper we draw upon Gramsci's concept of passive revolution (1971) as a means to conceptualize both the efforts of the church to reform society from within, and the reaffirmation of the hegemonic discourse that seems inevitable.
A growing body of literature on the Global South takes postdevelopment as a conceptual starting point, exploring the diversity of new forms of economy and empowerment produced locally through interactions with national and global forces. Studies of postsecularism and nonsecularism in the Global North demonstrate many affinities with postdevelopment. In the Philippines, small Christian communities and entire dioceses are tackling community livelihood and well-being. The Diocese of San Carlos is committed to the goal of 'total human development', a concept of cultural, economic and political empowerment among communities within its borders, shedding light on debates about development and faith-based organisation.
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