Philippine Politics and Society in the Twentieth Century: Colonial Legacies, Post-colonial Trajectories

This text offers historical depth and sophisticated theoretical insight into contemporary life in the archipelago. Organized as a set of interrelated thematic essays rather than a chronological account, the book addresses key topics which should be of interest to the academic and non- academic reader, such as the national level electoral politics, economic growth, the Philippine Chinese, law and order, opposition, the Left, and local and ethnic politics. Drawing on a wide variety of primary and secondary sources, as well as over a decade of research since the 1990s and work in the area, Hedman and Sidel provide an overview of the contemporary and historical scene of a much misunderstood part of South East Asia. It should fill an important gap in the literature for anyone interested in understanding the Philippines as well as students of politics, Asian studies, comparative politics, economics and sociology.