Political clientelism and instability in the Philippines

In: Asian affairs: an American review, Band 12, Heft 3, S. 1-23

Abstract

In all societies, politics consists of the struggle for and allocation of scarce resources such as power, wealth, position and security. Although all societies set up governments to help resolve conflicting interests and demands of the citizenry, each state does so in a distinctive manner. In the Philippines, the manner can be described as clientelist, a form of societal organization in which political life centres on relationships that are largely person to person, informal, hierarchical and reciprocal. The heart of Philippine politics is in the interplay among and within patron-client groupings that pervade these groups, as well as the entire society from President Marcos down to the peasant in the village. The essay analyses the roots, strengths and weaknesses of President Marcos in the clientelist system. (DÜI-Sen)