Revisiting Non-Interference in ASEAN: Some Thoughts to Move Forward

Article Two of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), which is the fundamental agreement that governs the relations of member-states within ASEAN, mentions of many principles yet are essentially rooted in one—the principle of non-intervention. Borne out of the high level of insecurity among...

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Making a Southeast Asian Democracy in Their Image: Some Strategies for Democracy Activists in the Region

Southeast Asia is in a democratic regression—both at the domestic and regional level.  Domestically over the last decade, Thailand has regressed severely from a democracy to be ruled by a military junta. Malaysia and its dominant Barisan Nasional continues to viciously crack down on the opposition...

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The Challenge of China and How NOT to Respond

There is no doubting the status of China as a global economic superpower. Through the wide expansion of its manufacturing sector, with combined elements of statism and neoliberalism, it created historical record double digit growth rates for 30 straight years. By virtue of its massive size, China...

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Constructivist Reflections on the Philippine Political Economy

(This piece was written primarily as a reaction to my International Political Economy professor's, Prof. Amado Mendoza, opinion piece on his Interaksyon opinion column, entitled "How did the PH economy grow despite the messy political situation? Since then, I have realized it is not a reaction...

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The Post-Washington Consensus, Development Models and the Game of Leverage

The world is made up of two actors; there are the ‘rule-makers’ and there are the ‘rule-takers.’ On one hand, the rule-makers have a high degree of both normative and coercive power at their disposal to illicit the obedience of rule-takers. On the other hand, rule-takers, in the absence of sheer coercive...

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Outreach Activities in Depoliticizing Poverty

            High levels of poverty and inequality have plagued Philippine society since time in memorial. For the past eight years, poverty has remained unchanged: 21.0 percent in 2006, 20.5 percent in 2009 and 19.7 percent in 2012 (NCSB, 2012). Being a problem that...

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Stuck in the Transition: The Filipino Family in Dominance

Structural functionalism is a broad perspective from the disciplines of sociology and anthropology that interprets society as a complex system that is beyond the human beings which comprise it. Its focal point of analysis are social structures and institutions within society, how they interact with...

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Money or Spending? Why Increased Finances Do Not Lead to Better Social Outcomes

Public expenditures are powerful tools of government to stimulate, direct and most crucially, democratize development; ensuring that the least of society does not get left behind. When allocated properly, public expenditures provide for the poor what markets easily overlook, such as education, health...

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