“Marcos is not a Hero!”, were the words that echoed throughout the country in the later months of 2016. The echoes reached far and beyond its domestic boundaries. For a moment, the cries of the...Show more“Marcos is not a Hero!”, were the words that echoed throughout the country in the later months of 2016. The echoes reached far and beyond its domestic boundaries. For a moment, the cries of the people - of the people who suffered, of the people whose loved ones are still missing, of the people who stood and continue to stand against the tyranny the Marcos regime reigned on the Philippines, resounded across the entire globe. Local and International media did not hold back on the coverage of the protesters who organized themselves in the masses in the Philippines, as well as in diaspora communities across Europe, the United States and Asia. The national outcry against the Marcos regime was a direct result of the decision made by the Supreme Court of the Philippines and President Rodrigo R. Duterte to allow former dictator Ferdinand Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani (LNMB or Heroes‟ Cemetery) on 18. November 2016.The burial of the former President Ferdinand E. Marcos at the Heroes Cemetery in November ignited a mix of pent up emotions on authoritarian rulership among millions of Filipinos. Speculations on the familial ties or characteristic similarities between Marcos and Duterte were kept at bay prior to the burial. Nevertheless, when President Duterte and the Supreme Court decided that they will pursue the state burial for the former dictator, it became evident that thirty years of democracy were not enough to forget the torrid past. During the burial demonstrations, the similarities between both former President Marcos and incumbent President Duterte began to raise suspicion on the return of the Marcosian ideology, the revitalization of strongman rulership and the “glorification the authoritarian brand of leadership” (Paddock 2016; Philstar.com „Marcos not a hero!‟ 2016). Prior to winning the 2016 Presidential Elections, Rodrigo Duterte‟s use of the populist political style became clear to the public, especially during specific turning points and highlights in his campaign. During his candidacy, Duterte neither hesitated to joke about rape, nor to speak about his plans to bring back the death penalty, to perform extrajudicial killings, or to reinstate Martial Law if needed. Every speech, video and article that came out about the candidate seemed to test the morality of the people more and more. The theatricality of Duterte‟s candidacy became evident in the narrative, in which he has constructed himself, as well as in the language that he used to articulate himself, and even in his late arrival to the elections (Curato 2017; 146-147). As Duterte‟s political style quickly proved its success, certain questions came to mind about the current progression of liberal democracy, like: How are Filipinos able to disregard their (catholic) morals and give their full support to a violent, threatening and misogynist leader? Have the pent-up feelings of the “silent majority” finally reached its culminating point? And, most importantly, how has he been able to successfully harness popular support out of hate, fear and bigotry? These questions on the fanaticism between both pro- and anti-Duterte, or pro- and anti-Marcos for that matter, are what sparked my initial interest in the Duterte phenomenon, regarding his 6 sudden rise in popularity, landslide victory and continued support from the electorate. Hence, this thesis will attempt to answer the research question: “How is Rodrigo inspired by Marcosian Politics?” in order to understand the revitalization of strongman rule and Marcosian Politics. To answer the overarching research question, the thesis will look into the aspects that contribute to the idea that the incumbent president is in any way inspired by the former dictator. This entails a closer look into Rodrigo Duterte‟s rise to power, as well as a look into how both presidents have treated their opposition. The sequence of the sub-questions gives focus to the thesis and clarifies the points that will be considered when analysing the elements of Marcosian Politics that Duterte allegedly draws inspiration from.Show less
