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Analyzing Antagonism in the Election of the Philippines Using Agonistic Democracy Paradigm

Year 2023, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 145 - 162, 01.05.2023
https://doi.org/10.53451/ijps.1210896

Abstract

Antagonism, in the language of agonistic democracy, refers to the conflict between opposing parties. These opposing parties do not recognize each other as legitimate voices. In the context of the election in the Philippines, the emergence of this kind of conflict is manifested during the opposing preferences will meet as they will express their political color. There are significant numbers of literature that discussed the nature of antagonistic conflict in the politics of the Philippines. For instance, patron-client describes the dyadic connection between patron and client through a personal relationship. However, this personal relationship is marked by conflict in personal interests. On the other hand, the moralization of politics has a nature of conflict based on two opposing sectors, the mass sphere, and the civil sphere. In which, the divide is determined by the socioeconomic status of the people. Although there are analyses that explain the possible reasons for these political conflicts, they fail to capture the nature of conflict during the election in the Philippines. The conflict will occur when people engage during the election and will be vocal about their preferred candidates. This article will try to explain the nature of conflict during elections using the Agonistic Democracy framework of Chantal Mouffe. Mouffe explains that there is a conflict between opposing parties because neither of the parties recognizes each other as legitimate or important. Rather the conflict is gapped by friend/enemy relation. Using the framework of Chantal Mouffe, this article will argue that the divide neglects the electoral process and undermines the essence of democracy that is manifested in elections. One of the ways to overcome this problem is to recognize the impossibility of eradicating the different preferences of the people in choosing a candidate

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References

  • Agoncillo, Teodoro. History of the Filipino People. 903 Quezon Boulevard, Quezon City: R.P. GARCIA Publishing Co.,
  • Anderson, Benedict. Cacique Democracy in the Philippines: Origins and Dreams. Routledge, 1998.
  • Aquino, Ranhilio. War of Classes. February 16, 2022. https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/02/16/opinion/columns/war-of-the-classes/1833135?fbclid= IwAR0yFHS3np-VtUQbF-NTcbnX2m8fsN_t7JRfNZwMRMSSD7Sb78VGbz1UTbI.
  • Arambala, Gerry. “Radical Leadership in Post-Parojinog Ozamis Politics.” European Journal of Research, no. 11-12, (November 2018):82.
  • Cupin, Bea. In vote-rich Quezon City, Uniteam promises a ‘New Society’ but still no concrete plans. February 15, 2022. https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/uniteam-bets-promise-new-society-without-concrete-plans-rally-quezon-city/.
  • Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, “Leni Robredo: The Last Man Standing is a Woman,” Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, April 19, 2020. https://www.freiheit.org/leni-robredo-last-man-standing-woman.
  • Gomes, Robin. Philippine Election: Bishops urge voters to keep at heart the common good. March 28, 2022. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-03/philippines-bishops-pastoral-letter-election-2022-common-good.html.
  • Gregorio, Xave. Over 1200 Catholic clergy endorse Robredo- Pangilinan in ‘the battle for truth. May 4, 2022. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/05/04/2178710/over-1200-catholic-clergy-endorse-robredo-pangilinan-battle-truth.
  • Hutchcroft, Paul D., and Joel Racamora. “Strong Demands and Weak Institutions: The Origins and Evolution of the Democratic Deficit in the Philippines.” Journal of East Asian Studies 3, no. 2 (MAY-AUGUST 2003): 259-292.
  • Hutchcroft, Paul. Linking Capital and Countryside: Patronage and Clientelism in Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines.’ Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014.
  • Kusaka, Wataru. Moral Politics in the Philippines. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2017.
  • Maboloc, Christopher Ryan. “Philippine Democracy and Political Reform,” Active Democratic Leadership: Civil Society Empowerment in the Bangsamoro (2017).
  • Mateo, Janvic. Robredo, Kiko top university mock polls. April 4, 2022. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/04/04/2172114/robredo-kiko-top-university-mock-polls.
  • Mouffe, Chantal. Deliberative Democracy or Agonistic Pluralism. Austria: Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna, 2000.
  • Mouffe, Chantal. Democratic Paradox. London: Verso, 2000.
  • Mouffe, Chantal. The Return of the Political. New York: Verso, 1993.
  • Owen, Norman G. "The Principalia in Philippine History: Kabikolan, 1790-1898." Philippine Studies 22, no. 3-4 (1974): 302.
  • Padillo, Maya. EDSA failed, a Marcos is back: AdDU Prof. May 12, 2022. https://edgedavao.net/latest-news/2022/05/12/edsa-failed-a-marcos-is-back-addu-prof/?fbclid=IwAR0O2kKIicWl7b9K63Ba6ogqvNewY4JZ9PC0_jsFtNGzENs0eSZPXmDAwi4.
  • Political observers downplay Iglesia ni Cristo’s endorsement of Marcos’ candidacy,” LiCAS.news Light for the Voiceless, May 6, 2022. https://www.licas.news/2022/05/06/political-observers-downplay-iglesia-ni-cristos-endorsement-of-marcos-candidacy/.
  • Quimpo, Nathan Gilbert. “Review: Oligarchic Patrimonialism, Bossism, Electoral Clientelism, and Contested Democracy in the Philippines,” Comparative Politics 37, No.2 (January 2005): 229-250.
  • Ramos, Marlon. Ping Lacson’s party Reporma shifts support to Leni Robredo. March 25, 2022. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1573385/pings-party-reporma-shifts-support-to-leni.
  • Scott, James “Patron-Client Politics and Political Change in Southeast Asia.” Apsa 66, no. 1 (March 1972), 93. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1959280.
  • Sidel, John T. Capital, Coercion, and Crime. Bossism in the Philippines. California: Stanford University Press, 1999.
  • Sobritchea, Carolyn, I. “The Philippine Peasantry of the Early Colonial Period.” Philippine Sociological Review, 29 (1981): 17 – 23.
  • Teehankee, Julio C. "Dissecting Patronage Democracy in the Philippines." In Patronage Democracy in the Philippines, edited by Julio C. Teehankee and Cleo Anne A. Calimbahan, 8. Quezon City: BUGHAW.2022.

Analyzing Antagonism in the Election of the Philippines Using Agonistic Democracy Paradigm

Year 2023, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 145 - 162, 01.05.2023
https://doi.org/10.53451/ijps.1210896

Abstract

Antagonism, in the language of agonistic democracy, refers to the conflict between opposing parties. These opposing parties do not recognize each other as legitimate voices. In the context of the election in the Philippines, the emergence of this kind of conflict is manifested during the opposing preferences will meet as they will express their political color. There are significant numbers of literature that discussed the nature of antagonistic conflict in the politics of the Philippines. For instance, patron-client describes the dyadic connection between patron and client through a personal relationship. However, this personal relationship is marked by conflict in personal interests. On the other hand, the moralization of politics has a nature of conflict based on two opposing sectors, the mass sphere, and the civil sphere. In which, the divide is determined by the socioeconomic status of the people. Although there are analyses that explain the possible reasons for these political conflicts, they fail to capture the nature of conflict during the election in the Philippines. The conflict will occur when people engage during the election and will be vocal about their preferred candidates. This article will try to explain the nature of conflict during elections using the Agonistic Democracy framework of Chantal Mouffe. Mouffe explains that there is a conflict between opposing parties because neither of the parties recognizes each other as legitimate or important. Rather the conflict is gapped by friend/enemy relation. Using the framework of Chantal Mouffe, this article will argue that the divide neglects the electoral process and undermines the essence of democracy that is manifested in elections. One of the ways to overcome this problem is to recognize the impossibility of eradicating the different preferences of the people in choosing a candidate

Project Number

N/A

References

  • Agoncillo, Teodoro. History of the Filipino People. 903 Quezon Boulevard, Quezon City: R.P. GARCIA Publishing Co.,
  • Anderson, Benedict. Cacique Democracy in the Philippines: Origins and Dreams. Routledge, 1998.
  • Aquino, Ranhilio. War of Classes. February 16, 2022. https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/02/16/opinion/columns/war-of-the-classes/1833135?fbclid= IwAR0yFHS3np-VtUQbF-NTcbnX2m8fsN_t7JRfNZwMRMSSD7Sb78VGbz1UTbI.
  • Arambala, Gerry. “Radical Leadership in Post-Parojinog Ozamis Politics.” European Journal of Research, no. 11-12, (November 2018):82.
  • Cupin, Bea. In vote-rich Quezon City, Uniteam promises a ‘New Society’ but still no concrete plans. February 15, 2022. https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/uniteam-bets-promise-new-society-without-concrete-plans-rally-quezon-city/.
  • Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, “Leni Robredo: The Last Man Standing is a Woman,” Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, April 19, 2020. https://www.freiheit.org/leni-robredo-last-man-standing-woman.
  • Gomes, Robin. Philippine Election: Bishops urge voters to keep at heart the common good. March 28, 2022. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-03/philippines-bishops-pastoral-letter-election-2022-common-good.html.
  • Gregorio, Xave. Over 1200 Catholic clergy endorse Robredo- Pangilinan in ‘the battle for truth. May 4, 2022. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/05/04/2178710/over-1200-catholic-clergy-endorse-robredo-pangilinan-battle-truth.
  • Hutchcroft, Paul D., and Joel Racamora. “Strong Demands and Weak Institutions: The Origins and Evolution of the Democratic Deficit in the Philippines.” Journal of East Asian Studies 3, no. 2 (MAY-AUGUST 2003): 259-292.
  • Hutchcroft, Paul. Linking Capital and Countryside: Patronage and Clientelism in Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines.’ Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014.
  • Kusaka, Wataru. Moral Politics in the Philippines. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2017.
  • Maboloc, Christopher Ryan. “Philippine Democracy and Political Reform,” Active Democratic Leadership: Civil Society Empowerment in the Bangsamoro (2017).
  • Mateo, Janvic. Robredo, Kiko top university mock polls. April 4, 2022. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/04/04/2172114/robredo-kiko-top-university-mock-polls.
  • Mouffe, Chantal. Deliberative Democracy or Agonistic Pluralism. Austria: Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna, 2000.
  • Mouffe, Chantal. Democratic Paradox. London: Verso, 2000.
  • Mouffe, Chantal. The Return of the Political. New York: Verso, 1993.
  • Owen, Norman G. "The Principalia in Philippine History: Kabikolan, 1790-1898." Philippine Studies 22, no. 3-4 (1974): 302.
  • Padillo, Maya. EDSA failed, a Marcos is back: AdDU Prof. May 12, 2022. https://edgedavao.net/latest-news/2022/05/12/edsa-failed-a-marcos-is-back-addu-prof/?fbclid=IwAR0O2kKIicWl7b9K63Ba6ogqvNewY4JZ9PC0_jsFtNGzENs0eSZPXmDAwi4.
  • Political observers downplay Iglesia ni Cristo’s endorsement of Marcos’ candidacy,” LiCAS.news Light for the Voiceless, May 6, 2022. https://www.licas.news/2022/05/06/political-observers-downplay-iglesia-ni-cristos-endorsement-of-marcos-candidacy/.
  • Quimpo, Nathan Gilbert. “Review: Oligarchic Patrimonialism, Bossism, Electoral Clientelism, and Contested Democracy in the Philippines,” Comparative Politics 37, No.2 (January 2005): 229-250.
  • Ramos, Marlon. Ping Lacson’s party Reporma shifts support to Leni Robredo. March 25, 2022. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1573385/pings-party-reporma-shifts-support-to-leni.
  • Scott, James “Patron-Client Politics and Political Change in Southeast Asia.” Apsa 66, no. 1 (March 1972), 93. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1959280.
  • Sidel, John T. Capital, Coercion, and Crime. Bossism in the Philippines. California: Stanford University Press, 1999.
  • Sobritchea, Carolyn, I. “The Philippine Peasantry of the Early Colonial Period.” Philippine Sociological Review, 29 (1981): 17 – 23.
  • Teehankee, Julio C. "Dissecting Patronage Democracy in the Philippines." In Patronage Democracy in the Philippines, edited by Julio C. Teehankee and Cleo Anne A. Calimbahan, 8. Quezon City: BUGHAW.2022.
There are 25 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Political Science
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Chrıstıan Hıpolao 0000-0002-8574-621X

Project Number N/A
Early Pub Date April 14, 2023
Publication Date May 1, 2023
Submission Date November 28, 2022
Acceptance Date March 11, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 5 Issue: 1

Cite

Chicago Hıpolao, Chrıstıan. “Analyzing Antagonism in the Election of the Philippines Using Agonistic Democracy Paradigm”. International Journal of Politics and Security 5, no. 1 (May 2023): 145-62. https://doi.org/10.53451/ijps.1210896.

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