Philippine Political Science Association

2016 International Conference

April 7-8, 2016

Legazpi City, Albay

Governance and the Politics of Change

Governance weaves together a web of norms, rules, and institutions that foster social order. The ecosystem of governance is anchored not only on the formal electoral systems for assigning power but also linked with the informal mechanisms that galvanize collective action. In 2016, the Philippines will reach the third decade since formal democracy was restored through people’s power that ended authoritarian rule. Nevertheless, democracy remains fragile due to weak institutions and policies that fail to respond to the inequities in the distribution of power and wealth in society.

The quality of governance at the national and sub-national levels, measured through such criteria as transparency, accountability, participation, effectiveness, rule of law, innovation and peace and order, affects development outcomes. As the Philippines prepare to elect a new set of national and local leaders, it would be interesting to scrutinize the governance platforms offered in addressing collective action dilemmas that afflict citizens and communities, including poverty, corruption, crime, conflict and environmental damage. The use of a comparative government lens will help inform how the Philippines fare with other countries in overcoming barriers to social reform.

Considering that many collective action problems transcend political boundaries, it would be interesting to examine the regional and international governance architecture to resolve these issues. For instance, the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Manila emphasized the role of good governance as a key lever in building inclusive economies. As globalization continues to drive the flow of capital, goods, people, and information across borders, it is important to study how these convergent processes interface and reshape the dynamics of national and local governance.