Rodrigo Duterte’s rise and the Marcoses’ return to power have captivated Southeast Asia watchers and the rest of the world. That the spectacle of strongman rule has allured most Filipinos is no longer in doubt, with the strong electoral mandate garnered by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2022. Whether their capture of state power is in any way connected and what this portends about the country’s democratic future is a key theme marking Games, Changes, and Fears. In this volume, Filipino academics and practitioners provide much needed analysis about this political succession and what it means for Asia’s oldest republic. Packed with thirteen chapters depicting insightful trends and prognosis on the Philippine economy, domestic politics, foreign policy, and society, this volume offers scholars, students, and policymakers with the analytical repertoire to understand developments in the Philippines. Overall, the chapters suggest that while some policies and practices continue under the Marcos Jr. administration, there have been pivotal changes indicating a break from the past. The chapters offer key policy recommendations critical in recalibrating Philippine political, economic, and social conditions that could address democratic backsliding, economic challenges, and societal polarization. "This carefully curated volume offers a judicious assessment of the political legacy of Rodrigo Duterte in key policy areas and the continuities and changes marking the transition to the Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. administration. Games, Changes, and Fears lays out a number of important insights—the formation of dynastic cartels, erosion of democratic values and civil liberties, securitization of governance, politicization of the information ecosystem, emergence of new political actors, and politics of fear, violence, and misogyny—that deepen our understanding of Philippine politics and society while providing portents of, and object lessons in, the struggle for substantive democracy in neighbouring Southeast Asian countries and the world." -- Caroline S. Hau, Professor, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University "In the wake of Rodrigo Duterte’s populist rule, the Philippines stands at a critical juncture, grappling with the aftermath of profound political and policy changes. As the nation enters a new era under Marcos Jr.’s presidency, questions loom large over the future of democracy and governance. This edited volume offers a multifaceted analysis of Duterte’s legacy, providing essential insights into the trajectory of Philippine politics and society." -- Yuko Kasuya, Professor, Faculty of Law, Keio University "This is a superb survey of Philippine politics during the Rodrigo Duterte administration and the early years of the Bongbong Marcos presidency. Written by Filipino scholars based in Philippine universities and research institutions, this unique compilation of essays provides a keen and grounded analysis of political developments in the country. In doing so, this volume showcases the strength and value of Filipino scholarship on Philippine politics. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the impact and legacy of the Duterte years." -- Erik Martinez Kuhonta, Associate Professor, McGill University

This book explores the volatile and uncertain future of democracies in Asia through typological analysis of the diverse patterns of Asian countries. Detailed analysis and extensive case studies featured throughout this edited volume unveil democracies in the process of being consolidated, such as Taiwan and South Korea; precarious democracies, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines; states that are experiencing setbacks and a retreat from democracy, such as Thailand and Myanmar; and finally, states that are still resisting democracy, including China. Key findings articulate that Asian democracies do not follow existing models or patterns—such as that of Western democracy—but are instead lively, emergent works in progress. Environments in which democracy is practiced in Asia reflect local people’s pluralistic imagination of democracy; hence a comparative thematic approach is adopted. Contributors originate from Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand, each presenting regional insights into the unique challenges and movements of their respective nations, from staging protests in Bangkok to military coup in Myanmar. Opening new dialogue in the study of democracy, The Volatility and Future of Democracies in Asia will appeal to students and scholars of political science, comparative politics, international development, democracy studies, and Asian studies more broadly. .

A critical analysis of one of the most media-savvy authoritarian rulers of our time, this collection of essays offers an overview of Duterte’s rise to power and actions of his early presidency. With contributions from leading experts on the society and history of the Phillipines, The Duterte Reader is necessary reading for anyone needing to contextualize and understand the history and social forces that have shaped contemporary Philippine politics.

In this accessible new textbook, Isabela and Norman Fairclough present their innovative approach to analysing political discourse. Political Discourse Analysis integrates analysis of arguments into critical discourse analysis and political discourse analysis. The book is grounded in a view of politics in which deliberation, decision and action are crucial concepts: politics is about arriving cooperatively at decisions about what to do in the context of disagreement, conflict of interests and values, power inequalities, uncertainty and risk. The first half of the book introduces the authors’ new approach to the analysis and evaluation of practical arguments, while the second half explores how it can be applied by looking at examples such as government reports, parliamentary debates, political speeches and online discussion forums on political issues. Through the analysis of current events, including a particular focus on the economic crisis and political responses to it, the authors provide a systematic and rigorous analytical framework that can be adopted and used for students’ own research. This exciting new text, co-written by bestselling author Norman Fairclough, is essential reading for researchers, upper undergraduate and postgraduate students of discourse analysis, within English language, linguistics, communication studies, politics and other social sciences.