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.
Where Duterte’s drug war is being fought
Subnational variation in extrajudicial killings speaks to the political logic behind the campaign.
Intolerant leaders for intolerant citizens: illiberal values in the Philippines
Survey data suggest Dutertismo isn't necessarily out of line with popular values.
Philippines beyond clichés series 1 #5: Beauty
Is Pia Wurtzbach, winner of Miss Universe 2015, the contemporary articulation of Philippines beauty standards?
The escalating violence of the New People’s Army in Mindanao
Despite Manila's push for peace, the NPA shows no signs of coming to the table.
Cariño brutal: the politics of caring in Duterte’s Philippines
How does one channel an intimate politics of caring without reinforcing the practices of patronage and clientelism?