Interviews with Philippine youth voting for first time reveal manifold views of election campaigns
Why so serious: the limits of liberal democracy in the Philippines
Populism has left liberal democracy on the defensive. Liberals might think to adopt elements of Duterte's populist idiom.
Key issues in the midterm elections: a perspective from the Bangsamoro
Should we consider the 2019 polls as a preview of politics in the soon-to-be autonomous region?
Swipe in the name of love? Filipina agency in interracial digital dating
Despite built-in power disadvantages, women are still asserting themselves in online matchmaking.
Campaigning and killing: violence against politicians in the Southern Philippines
Data on killings reconfirm how pervasive electoral violence remains.
When illiberal social media takes over democratic Philippines
Social media has amplified, rather than created, an existing culture of disinformation.
Did Duterte change the rules of Philippine elections?
Dutertismo still hasn’t fundamentally changed how political power is sought and won.
New Mandala’s most read in 2018
Revisit the 20 most popular articles published at New Mandala this year.
Enjoining moderation: the online self-presentations of the MILF [Part II]
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front struggles to sustain a dual image of moderation and militancy.
Enjoining moderation: the online self-presentations of the MILF [Part I]
In its rhetoric the MILF "is forced to walk a tightrope between two extremes", seeking credibility as a negotiator and as champion of Islam.
The rise of Duterte and Bolsonaro: creeping authoritarianism and criminal populism
In both countries, ugly populist politics is a direct result of legitimate concerns about crime and corruption.
Deadly answers: a review of ‘Tao Po’
"Many were emotionally triggered by this part-testimonial, part-theatrical, and part-documentary theatre"
The uncomfortable intimacies of ‘Tao Po’
"We are drawn into the lives of four characters, each with a separate monologue"
‘Tao Po’: More than collateral damage
The play highlights "raw and conflicted stories based on real lives in the drug war".
‘Tao Po’: Is anyone there?
"Tao Po invites us to listen to four people’s intimate accounts of the [Philippines'] drug war."
‘Tao Po’: A new theatre of war
Introducing a series of short reflections on Tao Po, a one-person play that grapples with the Philippines' drug war.
Build back bitter? Five lessons five years after Typhoon Haiyan
Researchers' snapshots of the problems of rebuilding after disaster.
Lesson 1: Local aid workers must not be second class citizens
How exactly can local & international humanitarian actors work better in the context of clear power disparities?
Lesson 3: Waiting is resource-intensive
On waiting for public transport and the inequalities of reconstruction.
Lesson 2: Concrete homes do not feed empty stomachs
Post-typhooon resettlement has made the lives of many more precarious.
Lesson 4: Recognition is as important as redistribution
The post-Yolanda resettlement process has broken the networks of support in urban poor communities.
Reading the Philippines
An introduction to the essential scholarship on Philippine history, politics, culture and society.