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The failure of the Philippine presidential system

The failure of the Philippine presidential system This article explains why the Philippines continues to be a weak state and that the prospects for building a stronger, sustainable state are dim under the current political system. Philippine elections are won through a mix of popularity, populism and money politics. This seriously undermines the strength of the state since the oligarchy expects returns for their investment in a candidate’s campaign. The extraordinary power of the president and the ministers makes it possible to repay and buy the loyalty of the financial and political oligarchy by giving away jobs within the bureaucracy. A predatory political elite, whose prime goal it has been to win the coming elections and to assure that their family interests are protected and promoted further undermines the independence and meritocracy of the Philippine bureaucracy. I argue that as long as the current presidential system continues to exist in the Philippines the chances for building a strong state are slight. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Asia Europe Journal Springer Journals

The failure of the Philippine presidential system

Loo, Bastiaan van de
Asia Europe Journal , Volume 2 (2) – Jan 1, 2004
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13 pages

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Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
Subject
Economics
ISSN
1610-2932
eISSN
1612-1031
DOI
10.1007/s10308-004-0093-9
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

This article explains why the Philippines continues to be a weak state and that the prospects for building a stronger, sustainable state are dim under the current political system. Philippine elections are won through a mix of popularity, populism and money politics. This seriously undermines the strength of the state since the oligarchy expects returns for their investment in a candidate’s campaign. The extraordinary power of the president and the ministers makes it possible to repay and buy the loyalty of the financial and political oligarchy by giving away jobs within the bureaucracy. A predatory political elite, whose prime goal it has been to win the coming elections and to assure that their family interests are protected and promoted further undermines the independence and meritocracy of the Philippine bureaucracy. I argue that as long as the current presidential system continues to exist in the Philippines the chances for building a strong state are slight.

Journal

Asia Europe Journal – Springer Journals

Published: Jan 1, 2004

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