Change without Transformation: Social Policy Reforms in the Philippines under Duterte

Area of Science:

• Social Policy
• Political Science
• Development Studies

Background:

• Rising authoritarian leaders globally are championing social policy reforms.
• Rodrigo Duterte's presidency (2016-2019) in the Philippines provides a case study.
• Existing global development discourse often views all social policy expansion as progressive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the transformative potential of social policy expansion under authoritarian leaders.
• To critique the assumption that all social policy expansion is progressive.
• To analyze the specific social policy reforms in the Philippines under Duterte.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of the Philippines.
• Examination of political economy and historico-institutional conditions.
• Critique of global development discourses on social policy.

Main Results:

• Social policy changes under Duterte were constrained by political and institutional factors.
• Reforms did not stem from progressive ideology or social movements.
• Minimalist universalism and poverty targeting were entrenched, not expanded social rights.

Conclusions:

• Social policy expansion under authoritarianism can have a 'dark side'.
• Reforms can legitimize conservative and authoritarian political orders.
• Narrow universalism, promoted internationally, can deepen social provisioning segmentation.