The Predatory State and Radical Politics: The Case of the Philippines

Abstract

This paper examines why the radical approach to politics of President Rodrigo Duterte, halfway into his term, has not overcome the predatory nature of the Philippine state. The predatory nature of the state implies that politics in the country is still defined by vested interests. The struggle of the Filipino is largely due to the structural nature of the injustices suffered by the country. Duterte’s brand of politics is antagonistic. The president is a polarizing figure. Despite the declaration that he will punish corrupt officials, traditional politicians and elite clans continue to rule the land with impunity. The country’s political ills are actually systemic. Elitism is rooted in colonial history that is perpetuated by an inept bureaucracy. It will be argued that the strong resolve and charisma of a leader is inadequate to remedy the troubles in fledgling democracies such as the Philippines.

Walking the Talk, from Online to Offline? Analyzing Predictors of Political Engagements in the Case of Cebu City, Philippines

“…The low mean scores from both variables suggest that most of the respondents are uninterested in meddling on political issues, and they tend to disengage in any political activities online and offline. This cynical behavior among the respondents is best explained by how people perceived politics as something that is a "dirty game" in the 1970s and 1980s after martial law, which can still be relevant until now (Maboloc, 2020;Sanchez, 2017). People even lose the initiative and drive for political action and change because they perceive how hopeless the Philippines' state is in recalling experiences under different administrations after the martial law and EDSA people power revolution.…”