The Cycle of Militarization, Demilitarization, and Remilitarization in the Early 21st Century Philippine Society

Abstract

This article examines the dynamics of remilitarization of 21st century Philippine society. It discusses the context of this continuing militarization and the avenues through which the Philippine military influences the civil society. It also looks into the process of militarization and demilitarization in Philippine political history from 1972 to 1998, and particularly observes the remilitarization of Philippine society in the early 21st century. This militarization is attributed to the AFP's assumption of a leadership role in the government overall efforts to rid the country of insurgencies by 2010. Despite its pervasive influence, however, the AFP is constrained by four factors from assuming a dominant role in Philippine polity-1) the military's reluctance to expand its current functions, 2) the existence of countervailing political institutions that keep military influence at bay; 3) the Philippines' vibrant civil society, and 4) the country's security relations with the U.S. In conclusion, the article asserts that the Aquino Administration's pressing political challenge is to reverse the process of militarization by changing the context of Philippine civil-military relations. This requires the AFP-touted as the most ill-equipped among Southeast Asian ill-equipped armed forces-taking a back seat in the counter-insurgency campaign, and concentrating on its long overdue arms modernization program.