Jul 17, 2007

Sponsor: Fellows

Democratic Recession in the Philippines: What Went Wrong?

Since the 1986 "People Power" movement toppled the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, the Philippines has become known as a democratic success story in the region. Two decades after this historic breakthrough, however, the country finds itself in a democratic recession: elections marred by irregularities, political polarization, and low public trust in key institutions now characterize the political landscape. Signs of creeping authoritarianism indicate that Philippine democracy is at risk, and Southeast Asia, in turn, stands to lose one of its few democratic governments. How did the Philippines regress to this current state of affairs, and what can be done to regain democratic momentum?

In his presentation, Mr. Jose Luis Gascon:

  • Examined the causes of this democratic deterioration and offered recommendations to revitalize Philippine democracy
  • Assessed the viability of constitutional reform as a means of redressing institutional weaknesses and engaging the public on issues of democracy and governance
  • Suggested ways in which the international community can focus its efforts to bolster democracy in the Philippines

With comments by:

Dr. Robin Broad of American University

Mr. Jose Luis Gascon is executive director of LIBERTAS (Lawyer's League for Liberty), a Manila-based network of civic-minded legal professionals committed to the promotion of freedom, equality, and the rule of law in the Philippines. He also lectures in the political science departments of Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University, and is corporate secretary of the International Center for Innovation, Transformation, & Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov). The youngest member to both the 1986 Constitutional Commission and the first Congress following the end of martial law, Mr. Gascon has also served as peace negotiator and undersecretary of education.

Dr. Robin Broad is a professor of international development at American University, where she teaches courses on economic globalization and development with a focus on social, environmental, and economic accountability, and has written extensively on the Philippines.