Applying the Pluralist Theory of the State to People Power
APPLYING THE PLURALIST THEORY OF THE STATE TO THE PEOPLE POWER PHENOMENON IN THE PHILIPPINES
A research paper submitted by
Leah Marie O. Tumlos
MA in Political Science
to
Dr. Julio Teehankee
Professor, Political Science Department
De La Salle University - Manila
In partial fulfilment of the requirements for
Theories of the State (POL760M)
on
August 25, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Background and Context of the Study ……………………………………………. 3
Significance of the Study …………………………………………………………. 4 Review of Related Literature
Pluralist Theory of the State ………………………………………………………. 5
People Power in the Philippines …………………………………………………... 6 Findings and Analysis Contemporary Pluralism and People Power ……………………………………… 9
The “EDSA Fatigue” ……………………………………………………………... 12 Conclusion
All-Time Lessons Learned ……………………………………………………….. 15
References ……………………………………………………………………………….. 16
INTRODUCTION
Background and Context of the Study
The people power phenomenon is believed to be an extra-constitutional means of political succession. It became legendary in the 1980s as a result of effectively overthrowing authoritarian rule in the Philippines and in various countries worldwide. This movement against authoritarian rule formed part of the third wave democratization that Samuel Huntington described and analyzed in his classic work on the matter.
In the Philippines, people power has always been a significant manifestation of pluralism because of the degree of consensus underlying the political process of transfer of power. First used in February 1986, this popular Filipino mass protest was aggravated by the late former president Ferdinand Marcos’ attempt to steal the results of the snap elections he called in order to validate his presumed
A research paper submitted by
Leah Marie O. Tumlos
MA in Political Science
to
Dr. Julio Teehankee
Professor, Political Science Department
De La Salle University - Manila
In partial fulfilment of the requirements for
Theories of the State (POL760M)
on
August 25, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Background and Context of the Study ……………………………………………. 3
Significance of the Study …………………………………………………………. 4 Review of Related Literature
Pluralist Theory of the State ………………………………………………………. 5
People Power in the Philippines …………………………………………………... 6 Findings and Analysis Contemporary Pluralism and People Power ……………………………………… 9
The “EDSA Fatigue” ……………………………………………………………... 12 Conclusion
All-Time Lessons Learned ……………………………………………………….. 15
References ……………………………………………………………………………….. 16
INTRODUCTION
Background and Context of the Study
The people power phenomenon is believed to be an extra-constitutional means of political succession. It became legendary in the 1980s as a result of effectively overthrowing authoritarian rule in the Philippines and in various countries worldwide. This movement against authoritarian rule formed part of the third wave democratization that Samuel Huntington described and analyzed in his classic work on the matter.
In the Philippines, people power has always been a significant manifestation of pluralism because of the degree of consensus underlying the political process of transfer of power. First used in February 1986, this popular Filipino mass protest was aggravated by the late former president Ferdinand Marcos’ attempt to steal the results of the snap elections he called in order to validate his presumed