Social Mobilization and the Philippine Political System
Abstract
Social Mobilization and the Philippine Political System SAGE Publications, Inc.1971DOI: 10.1177/001041407100400304 Jesse F. Marquette University of Florida Despite the often chaotic profile of its postwar history, the Philippines Republic has developed a viable democracy. A particularly interesting aspect of postwar Philippine politics has been the continuous and steady increase ~in the level of mass electoral participation. This paper presents a partial explanation for this increase and the concomitant development of a stable mass democracy in the Philippines in terms of certain salient socioeconomic factors. Philippine society has experienced rapid and continuing change; yet, in the face of this change with all its attendant problems, the vast majority of the populace has been willing to carry its problems to the ballot box. Despite some electoral violence, the transfers of power have been legal; a civilian regime has governed since independence, and the government has peacefully changed hands upon the decision of the electorate. In this sense, the Phillippines constitute a stable democracy. In the following discussion, development is discussed strictly in terms of democratic development; the increasing participation of the mass of the populace in the decision-making processes of the political system. Although there are many definitions of development,