By Prof. Alex Magno
Bear with me.
In preparation for an international meeting on the future of democracy in the Philippines, I have been focusing my thoughts on what works, what doesn’t and what is likely in our democratic practice.
The interest of other nations in our glories — and our follies — is understandable. We are Asia’s oldest democracy. Which is not to say that we are Asia’s most mature.
We know, from observing people around us, that age and maturity are two very different things.
Our practice of democracy has had its ups and downs. The democratic edifice has been accused of concealing oligarchic rule. As a form of government, democracy has not enabled us to be our best. Our spotty economic record attests to that.
Once before, the democratic culture was unable to resist a long period of dictatorship. But then again, the dictatorship was terminated by a flamboyant democratic uprising. A regime armed repression was overthrown by the solidarity of a people daring to mount an unarmed resistance.
The grand hopes sparked by a spectacular uprising were dashed by inept and corrupt government. A facsimile of the first uprising was again launched in 2001. The same grand hopes were sparked and then dashed just as quickly.
Two years from now, we will hold critical elections for a new president using the same antiquated and vulnerable electoral process we have kept that way for decades. There is some potential for the whole process breaking down and the continuity of our democracy put in peril. Read More...
Bear with me.
In preparation for an international meeting on the future of democracy in the Philippines, I have been focusing my thoughts on what works, what doesn’t and what is likely in our democratic practice.
The interest of other nations in our glories — and our follies — is understandable. We are Asia’s oldest democracy. Which is not to say that we are Asia’s most mature.
We know, from observing people around us, that age and maturity are two very different things.
Our practice of democracy has had its ups and downs. The democratic edifice has been accused of concealing oligarchic rule. As a form of government, democracy has not enabled us to be our best. Our spotty economic record attests to that.
Once before, the democratic culture was unable to resist a long period of dictatorship. But then again, the dictatorship was terminated by a flamboyant democratic uprising. A regime armed repression was overthrown by the solidarity of a people daring to mount an unarmed resistance.
The grand hopes sparked by a spectacular uprising were dashed by inept and corrupt government. A facsimile of the first uprising was again launched in 2001. The same grand hopes were sparked and then dashed just as quickly.
Two years from now, we will hold critical elections for a new president using the same antiquated and vulnerable electoral process we have kept that way for decades. There is some potential for the whole process breaking down and the continuity of our democracy put in peril. Read More...
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