Resilient bamboo in Manila symbolizes the enduring spirit of Filipinos.

The Philippines: Why Democracy Struggles Despite People Power Revolutions

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Elliot Brynn in Politics & Policy June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover the complex reasons behind the Philippines' ongoing struggle to establish a strong and stable democracy, examining its history, elite power dynamics, and the role of civil society."


The Philippines holds the distinction of being one of the longest-standing democracies in Southeast Asia. However, its democratic journey has been far from smooth. Despite several periods of electoral governance and even remarkable instances of 'People Power' revolutions, the nation continues to face significant challenges in establishing a robust and high-quality democracy. This begs the question: why does democracy in the Philippines struggle to take firm root?

Unlike many of its regional neighbors, the Philippines adopted democratic institutions early on, modeled after the American system. Post-independence, regular elections became a norm. Yet, this system proved unstable, creating tensions that ultimately paved the way for authoritarian rule. The Marcos era, marked by martial law and the suppression of democratic processes, serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of Philippine democracy.

Even after the triumphant 'People Power' revolution that ousted Marcos, the subsequent return to democracy saw a resurgence of old patterns. Instead of forging a new democratic path, the country largely reverted to a US-based presidential system, allowing established elites to recapture power. This continuity of practices, combined with specific factors unique to the Philippines, helps explain the ongoing challenges to its democratic development.

Elite Dominance: How Wealthy Families Maintain Political Control in the Philippines

Resilient bamboo in Manila symbolizes the enduring spirit of Filipinos.

A key factor in understanding the Philippines' democratic trajectory is the persistent influence of elite families. Scholars like Carl Landé have emphasized the continuity of practices, particularly 'patrimonialism,' as a defining feature of Filipino politics. This system is characterized by strong ties between patrons (wealthy families) and their clients, enabling these families to maintain and strengthen their political and economic power across generations.

From this perspective, the nature of the regime before, during, and after Marcos remains less distinct. The concentration of wealth, coupled with the strategic use of state resources to enhance private wealth, has been a consistent feature, regardless of whether the government is nominally democratic or authoritarian. This creates a playing field where genuine political competition and broader participation are significantly hampered.

  • Wealth Concentration: Wealthy families control a disproportionate share of the nation’s assets.
  • Patron-Client Relationships: Strong, reciprocal relationships between powerful families and their supporters reinforce existing power structures.
  • State Resource Capture: Elites strategically use state resources to enhance their wealth and influence.
  • Limited Political Mobility: It is difficult for individuals or groups outside these established networks to gain significant political power.
Paul Hutchcroft has even termed this phenomenon 'booty capitalism,' highlighting the deeply entrenched and pervasive nature of this system. While this perspective has its critics, it underscores the critical role that wealth and elite networks play in shaping the contours of Philippine politics, often at the expense of broader democratic ideals.

The Path Forward: Can the Philippines Break Free from Its Past?

The Philippines' democratic journey is a complex tapestry woven with threads of hope, resilience, and persistent challenges. While 'People Power' revolutions have demonstrated the nation's yearning for change, the enduring power of elite families and structural inequalities continue to impede the development of a truly robust and inclusive democracy. The path forward requires addressing these fundamental issues, fostering greater political participation, and strengthening institutions to ensure accountability and transparency.

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Everything You Need To Know

1

What are the main reasons democracy is struggling in the Philippines despite the 'People Power' revolutions?

The struggle for democracy in the Philippines is attributed to historical factors, elite power dynamics, and the role of civil society. Specifically, the continuity of 'patrimonialism,' where wealthy families maintain political control through patron-client relationships, and the concentration of wealth, coupled with the strategic use of state resources to enhance private wealth, hinder genuine political competition. The early adoption of democratic institutions modeled after the American system proved unstable and ultimately paved the way for authoritarian rule, further entrenching these challenges.

2

How did the Marcos era impact the development of democracy in the Philippines?

The Marcos era, characterized by martial law and the suppression of democratic processes, serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of Philippine democracy. It disrupted the already unstable democratic institutions, leading to authoritarian rule. Even after the 'People Power' revolution that ousted Marcos, the country largely reverted to a US-based presidential system, allowing established elites to recapture power. This continuity of practices, combined with specific factors unique to the Philippines, helps explain the ongoing challenges to its democratic development.

3

What is 'patrimonialism' and how does it contribute to the challenges faced by Philippine democracy?

'Patrimonialism,' as described by scholars like Carl Landé, is a system characterized by strong ties between patrons (wealthy families) and their clients. This enables these families to maintain and strengthen their political and economic power across generations. This system concentrates wealth, allows elites to strategically use state resources to enhance private wealth and limits political mobility for individuals or groups outside these established networks, thus hampering genuine political competition and broader participation.

4

What is 'booty capitalism' and how does it relate to the Philippines' political landscape?

Paul Hutchcroft termed the phenomenon of wealth and elite networks deeply shaping Philippine politics as 'booty capitalism'. This concept highlights the entrenched and pervasive nature of this system, where wealth and elite networks play a critical role in shaping the contours of Philippine politics, often at the expense of broader democratic ideals. It implies that the strategic capture and use of state resources by elites for their personal enrichment is a defining feature of the political system.

5

What key factors are identified as impeding the development of a robust and inclusive democracy in the Philippines, and what is needed to move forward?

The enduring power of elite families, structural inequalities, and the continuity of 'patrimonialism' are identified as key factors impeding the development of a truly robust and inclusive democracy in the Philippines. The path forward requires addressing these fundamental issues, fostering greater political participation, and strengthening institutions to ensure accountability and transparency. Addressing the concentration of wealth and the strategic use of state resources to enhance private wealth is crucial. The Philippines needs to break free from the historical patterns of elite dominance and 'booty capitalism' to build a more equitable and democratic society.

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