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The Philippines: a Pivotal Election?

Is democracy in the Philippines under threat?

On Monday the Philippines holds what are seen as the most hotly contested elections in its history. The country is a key regional ally for the United States as part of its 鈥楶ivot to Asia鈥� strategy, but it is also a nation of extreme of wealth and poverty that has faced a long-standing Islamist insurgency. The leading candidates include the son of ex-dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and the front-runner for the presidency, Rodrigo Duterte, has drawn widespread comparisons to Donald Trump for his populist style and unscripted remarks.

The Philippines has experienced a period of sustained growth over the past few years, but there are fears that this could be undermined by politicians who reject the strategies that have led to that success. Owen Bennett Jones and his expert guests discuss the state of democracy in the Philippines, its economic prospects and its future as a regional power.

(Ferdinand Marcos Jr, a vice-presidential candidate and son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, campaigns in Manila. Photo credit: Getty Images)

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50 minutes

Last on

Sat 7 May 2016 10:06GMT
大象传媒 World Service except Australasia & News Internet

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Contributors

Richard Javad Heydarian - assistant professor of Political Science at De La Salle University in the Philippines

Eric Gutierrez -聽Filipino political analyst and investigative reporter now Senior Advisor for Governance at Christian Aid in the UK

John Sidel- Professor of International and Comparative Politics at the LSE

Pauline Eadie - assistant professor at the University of Nottingham and deputy director of the university's Institute of Asia Pacific Studies

Broadcasts

  • Fri 6 May 2016 08:06GMT
    大象传媒 World Service except News Internet
  • Fri 6 May 2016 23:06GMT
    大象传媒 World Service except News Internet
  • Sat 7 May 2016 03:06GMT
    大象传媒 World Service except Australasia & News Internet
  • Sat 7 May 2016 10:06GMT
    大象传媒 World Service except Australasia & News Internet

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