Political reforms in the Philippines: challenges ahead

In: Contemporary Southeast Asia, Band 27, Heft 2, S. 217-235

Abstract

While Filipinos reclaimed their liberties after the downfall of Mr. Marcos in February 1986, scholars began wondering about the eventual success of political reforms in the archipelago, particularly because of sustained conflicts in the rebellion on Mindanao Island and potential military threats to the ruling government such as the one-day abortive coup on 27 July 2003. This article argues that the Philippines has changed the nature of its regime from an authoritarian one to an electoral democracy, but a liberal democracy has not yet matured in the archipelago. The key reason is that there are challenges ahead in the ongoing process of political transition in the archipelago, including the threat of military coup and secessionist movements, slow economic growth, and the need to evolve a time-tested democratic culture. (Contemp Southeast Asia/DÜI)