Whither the Philippines in the 21st Century?

Rodolfo C Severino, Lorraine Carlos Salazar

Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2007 - Social Science - 370 pages

Philippine observers are often baffled by the economic and political turmoil that dominates headlines about the country. Yet, at the same time, the Philippines continues to hold the potential for successfully combining political freedoms with sustained economic growth and, thus, improving the lives of its people. 

           In this book, a team of distinguished scholars examines these seemingly contradictory trends in order to gain a sense of the country's prospects. Reassessing the fascinating and puzzling "Philippines conundrum" from various angles, the analyses contribute sharp and fresh insights into a variety of areas including: the presidency and political parties; constitutional change and federalism; the roles of the military, religion, and the media in politics; the conflict in Mindanao; the communist insurgency; macroeconomic developments, issues, and trends; the investment climate and business opportunities; poverty, unemployment, and income inequality; migration and remittances; and the Philippine development record in comparative perspective. While the analyses offered in this volume do not arrive at a consensus, they provide a deeper perspective and a more balanced appreciation of events in the country and a glimpse of the prospects and challenges that it faces.

Contents

• AN OVERVIEW by Mely CaballeroAnthony: 1
• 2 FROM REGIME CRISIS TO SYSTEM CHANGE by Joel Rocamora: 18
• 3 PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND NATION BUILDING by Jose V Abueva: 43
• RETROSPECT AND PROSPECTS by Carolina G Hernandez: 78
• A LOOK AT THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE by Grace GorospeJamon and Mary Grace P Mirandilla: 100
• A STUDY IN CONTRASTS AND CONTRADICTIONS by Melinda Quintos de Jesus: 127
• 7 PHILIPPINE MACROECONOMIC ISSUES AND CHALLENGES by Gerardo P Sicat: 142
• 8 INVESTMENT CLIMATE AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES by Peter Wallace: 180
• 9 WHY DOES POVERTY PERSIST IN THE PHILIPPINES? FACTS FANCIES AND POLICIES by Arsenio M Balisacan: 202
• 10 DIASPORA REMITTANCES AND POVERTY by Ernesto M Pernia: 222
• A COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT by Hal Hill and Sharon Faye Piza: 246
• THE PARADOX OF MUSLIM SEPARATISM by Patricio N Abinales: 277
• 13 THE INSURGENCY THAT WOULD NOT GO AWAY by Alexander R Magno: 313
• SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS AND ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS by Rodolfo C Severino: 330
• Index: 347

About the author

•Rodolfo C. Severino, a former Philippine diplomat and former ASEAN Secretary-General, is a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.

•Lorraine Carlos Salazar is Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore and Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. 

Bibliographic information

• Title: Whither the Philippines in the 21st Century?
• Editors: Rodolfo C Severino, Lorraine Carlos Salazar
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2007
• ISBN: 9812304991, 9789812304995
• Length: 370 pages
• Subjects: Social Science / General