Beyond Geopolitics: The Philippines in the New Marcos Era

At the midpoint of the Marcos Jr. presidency, questions about the direction of Philippine governance have taken on new urgency. Coming to power in the wake of a violent populist regime, the administration faces heightened expectations: How will it distinguish itself from its predecessor? What major political, economic and social developments have unfolded so far? Why has policy progress emerged in some areas but stalled in others—and how effective are the new approaches being pursued? And how will the administration manage its own factional splits and internal infighting? This edited volume provides a timely and comprehensive assessment of the Marcos Jr. administration at midterm. Bringing together eighteen chapters by leading scholars and practitioners, it examines the administration’s performance, priorities and evolving governance style across five thematic parts: Governing at Midterm; Contested Narratives; Oligarchic Continuities; Challenges in Development and Delivery: Infrastructure and Agriculture; and Emergent Areas of Governance. While the administration has maintained several practices from the Duterte period, it has also marked out new directions. Taken together, the contributions reveal a complex and at times contradictory governance landscape—one in which entrenched oligarchic interests, political survival and shifting domestic and geopolitical pressures intersect. Offering clear-eyed analysis and forward-looking insights, this volume equips scholars, students, policymakers and observers with an essential guide to understanding the political and policy landscape of the Philippines under Marcos Jr. It also identifies critical areas for reform to address democratic fragility, uneven development and polarization.