This thesis explores the link between military education, nation-building, nationalism, and national identity in the Philippines by using an ethnosymbolic and constructivist approach. It focuses on...Show moreThis thesis explores the link between military education, nation-building, nationalism, and national identity in the Philippines by using an ethnosymbolic and constructivist approach. It focuses on the implementation of a mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program in all senior high schools in the Philippines, which is formulated in Senate Bill 2232 and is highly probable to be accepted by the Senate. The government links the military education program to instilling national values, patriotism and love of country within the youth. By conducting a case study of Manila, reviewing literature from the fields of identity, military, and nation-building studies, as well as by comparing the Filipino ROTC program to military education programs for high school students in the United States and Turkey, this thesis makes suggestions about the role of the ROTC as a nation-builder and its potential influences on nationalism and the formation of a national identity.Show less
