Ronald Pernia - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Ronald Pernia
Asian Journal of Comparative Politics
This study aims to provide empirical evidence on the celebrity culture, i.e. the pervasive fascin... more This study aims to provide empirical evidence on the celebrity culture, i.e. the pervasive fascination of an audience with public figures, in the Philippines. We used data from the seventh wave of the World Values Survey ( n = 1200) to establish whether celebrity culture exists in the Philippines. We then tested whether citizens’ level of education affects one's attribution of confidence to an institution dominated by celebrities, i.e. television, over those institutions governed by experts, i.e. universities. Lastly, we performed a sentiment analysis in the comments of a YouTube video from a well-known celebrity, Toni Gonzaga, on her interview with Bongbong Marcos, the son of the late dictator, to investigate how strong celebrity influence is in the country traversing the social and political arena. The results showed that there is a significant difference between citizens’ level of confidence in television and universities, and that those with lower levels of education are mor...
The Normal Lights
In this paper, we argue that academic freedom is not only an indispensable mechanism for producin... more In this paper, we argue that academic freedom is not only an indispensable mechanism for producing knowledge but is also vital in maintaining a strong democracy. Leveraging on the newly released dataset assessing the state of academic freedom globally, we empirically demonstrate how higher levels of academic freedom are associated with greater increases in democratic development using the Philippines as a national case study. Multiple regression analysis shows that a one-unit increase in the level of academic freedom index is associated with an 11% increase in the liberal democracy index score, which suggests a positive linear relationship. Overall, the findings have implications for policymakers and other stakeholders. Ultimately, we hope that teachers will not be discouraged from fostering critical thinking, but also that students are able to exercise these hard-fought ideals and principles towards better understanding the persisting enigma that is Philippine society.
Journal of Global and Area Studies(JGA)
Technological Forecasting and Social Change
Debasing Political Rhetoric, 2023
Asian Journal of Political Science, Mar 8, 2023
Social Science Research Network, 2023
Philippine Political Science Journal
This article is an attempt to carve out a research agenda for an enriched populism research in th... more This article is an attempt to carve out a research agenda for an enriched populism research in the Philippines. Specifically, it analyzes journal articles drawn from academic database collections, examines its domains of publication, and core analytical approaches. Then, it situated these studies within the broader landscape of the Philippine political scholarship. The results suggest a thriving and flourishing populism research in the Philippines. Yet, it also suffers from the same theoretical and empirical obscurities that typifies global research on populism. The article contends that future Philippine populism studies must (a) adhere to a minimalist theoretical anchor, (b) be methodologically pluralistic and innovative, and (c) be thematically grounded on a host of other significant domains of Philippine politics that go beyond Duterte. Ultimately, the article urges prospective scholars to strongly engage with these arguments and suggested line of political inquiries in order to...
Philippine Political Science Journal
What accounts for the uptick of political trust in the Philippines? This study theorizes that ind... more What accounts for the uptick of political trust in the Philippines? This study theorizes that individual subjective health combined with the extent of democratic (and nondemocratic political attitude) explains political trust in the Philippines. It hypothesizes that healthier authoritarian citizens are more likely to express favorable views towards political institutions because these individuals possess conservative values who put, among others, a premium on maintenance of order and stability. Such political values are activated upon the arrival of strongmen. Using data from the 2019 World Values Survey, estimates strongly support such an argument. The novel operationalization of this study nuances the view of citizen attitudes on political trust in developing democracies. Overall, the main results not only add credence to the cultural origins of political trust, but it also illuminates on why Philippine political institutions remain trusted despite the botched pandemic response an...
IAFOR Journal of Education, 2017
This study explores how the decentralization law of 1991 in the Philippines has provided the cond... more This study explores how the decentralization law of 1991 in the Philippines has provided the conditions for the interface of higher education and politics by virtue of Local Government Units (LGUs) establishment of Local Colleges and Universities (LCUs). Anchored on educational politics framework, it specifically looks at the experience of Mandaue City which presently has two similarly named local colleges, one is Commission on Higher Education accredited and LGU supported, while the other has been deemed to have "no legal personality" but has persisted to operate nonetheless. This would create a conflict of legitimacy and later on manifest issues and challenges naturally beyond the immediate domain of education, but one that must be harnessed constructively given the realities of Philippine politics i.e. power struggle and political dynamics. The democratic opening engendered by the decentralization law to allow LGUs to establish post-secondary schools are beset with growing political tensions and contestations. Yet, there were also narratives and evidence of positive impact brought about by the decentralization of higher education. Using key informant interviews, focus group discussion and document reviews, this study contends that public educational ventures such as LCUs serve as a microcosm of the larger problem in Philippine higher education: improved access to higher education, but quality is deteriorating. As such, this study hopes to suggest several policy directions and practical considerations for national governments vis-à-vis the LGUs role as enabler and/or regulator of higher education.
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2021
Journal of East Asian Studies
This paper examines speechmaking on a contentious policy by arguably one of the most controversia... more This paper examines speechmaking on a contentious policy by arguably one of the most controversial figures to have assumed the Philippine presidency. Drawing on quantitative textual approaches on a corpus of 845 presidential speeches delivered between June 2016 and July 2020, we provide evidence that Rodrigo Duterte's evocative utterances against drug lords and criminals are not just deliberate illocutionary acts intended to court public support, but also priming tactics aimed towards a politically and economically significant audience whose acquiescence gives symbolic legitimacy to a controversial anti-crime policy. Using quantitative textual approaches and econometric analysis, we find that violent-crime rhetoric is more likely to accompany public pronouncements made before a political audience consisting of law enforcement authorities and government officials, as well as an economic audience made up of business chambers, overseas Filipino workers, and labor groups. Overall, t...
Although much of the researches on populism intimately delineates its relationship with democracy... more Although much of the researches on populism intimately delineates its relationship with democracy, few studies have been done relating it to human rights, which is presently under siege with the rise of populist leaders and groups. This paper seeks to examine the intersectionality of populism and human rights by looking at the case of the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte. The “new” ideational approach of populism analyzes populist ideas as latent demand or disposition that is activated and mobilized by populist actors, and appropriating the notion of “contestation.” This paper argues that Duterte’s populist political attitude is a mere reflection of the country’s authoritarian culture and illiberal values characterized, among others, by the disregard for liberal political institutions, norms, and practices. The failure of the liberal democratic regime to sufficiently respond to basic social ills was harnessed and mobilized by Duterte, the “strongman” from Davao, into political action. In addition, Duterte’s indifference and violative treatment of human rights as a principle and a standard that needs protection transpired in a highly unequal and elitist political system. This implies that turning against this populist challenge to human rights necessitates treating populism as an ideal that is initially hidden but must be surfaced. Also, although there needs to be continual opposition and contestation, there has to be an acknowledgment of populist’s structural contexts. Future studies could venture into quantification and measurement of empirical variables to complement the prevailing methodological vista of populism research in the Philippines.
Philippine Political Science Journal
Abstract This study aims to examine the experience of the local government of Sibonga, a municipa... more Abstract This study aims to examine the experience of the local government of Sibonga, a municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines in establishing the Sibonga Community College, a local public higher educational institution. Situating within the context of a Philippine local government and taking into account the political dynamics and existing structures of local power and authority, this study uses the systems approach of David Easton as framework of analysis as adapted by education scholars. Primarily, this study focuses on the processes and practices undertaken in the venture into higher education system by the local government. Methodologically, the study looks into the perceptions of local government officials, local line agency heads, teachers and administrators, students and graduates; and uses key informant interviews and focus group discussion. The findings suggest that the creation of the educational venture was susceptible to local political dynamics, a strong mayoral engagement and nuances of informal arrangements with a national agency on higher education. The local government, as the political system at the local level, remains a powerful site of delivering public goods and service. In addition, the venture was argued to be a form of policy innovation and good governance centered on the response to the higher education gap at the local level. As such, there needs to be improvements in local government units’ venture as provider of higher education at the local level, to match access goals with quality assurance, for an enhanced, rationalized and sustainable pursuit of higher education system in the country.
Studies on authoritarian values, which have mostly focused on authoritarian regimes and on democr... more Studies on authoritarian values, which have mostly focused on authoritarian regimes and on democracies with spells of authoritarianism, suggest trust in public institutions. However, limited empiri...
Journal of Asian Public Policy
Asian Journal of Comparative Politics
This study aims to provide empirical evidence on the celebrity culture, i.e. the pervasive fascin... more This study aims to provide empirical evidence on the celebrity culture, i.e. the pervasive fascination of an audience with public figures, in the Philippines. We used data from the seventh wave of the World Values Survey ( n = 1200) to establish whether celebrity culture exists in the Philippines. We then tested whether citizens’ level of education affects one's attribution of confidence to an institution dominated by celebrities, i.e. television, over those institutions governed by experts, i.e. universities. Lastly, we performed a sentiment analysis in the comments of a YouTube video from a well-known celebrity, Toni Gonzaga, on her interview with Bongbong Marcos, the son of the late dictator, to investigate how strong celebrity influence is in the country traversing the social and political arena. The results showed that there is a significant difference between citizens’ level of confidence in television and universities, and that those with lower levels of education are mor...
The Normal Lights
In this paper, we argue that academic freedom is not only an indispensable mechanism for producin... more In this paper, we argue that academic freedom is not only an indispensable mechanism for producing knowledge but is also vital in maintaining a strong democracy. Leveraging on the newly released dataset assessing the state of academic freedom globally, we empirically demonstrate how higher levels of academic freedom are associated with greater increases in democratic development using the Philippines as a national case study. Multiple regression analysis shows that a one-unit increase in the level of academic freedom index is associated with an 11% increase in the liberal democracy index score, which suggests a positive linear relationship. Overall, the findings have implications for policymakers and other stakeholders. Ultimately, we hope that teachers will not be discouraged from fostering critical thinking, but also that students are able to exercise these hard-fought ideals and principles towards better understanding the persisting enigma that is Philippine society.
Journal of Global and Area Studies(JGA)
Technological Forecasting and Social Change
Debasing Political Rhetoric, 2023
Asian Journal of Political Science, Mar 8, 2023
Social Science Research Network, 2023
Philippine Political Science Journal
This article is an attempt to carve out a research agenda for an enriched populism research in th... more This article is an attempt to carve out a research agenda for an enriched populism research in the Philippines. Specifically, it analyzes journal articles drawn from academic database collections, examines its domains of publication, and core analytical approaches. Then, it situated these studies within the broader landscape of the Philippine political scholarship. The results suggest a thriving and flourishing populism research in the Philippines. Yet, it also suffers from the same theoretical and empirical obscurities that typifies global research on populism. The article contends that future Philippine populism studies must (a) adhere to a minimalist theoretical anchor, (b) be methodologically pluralistic and innovative, and (c) be thematically grounded on a host of other significant domains of Philippine politics that go beyond Duterte. Ultimately, the article urges prospective scholars to strongly engage with these arguments and suggested line of political inquiries in order to...
Philippine Political Science Journal
What accounts for the uptick of political trust in the Philippines? This study theorizes that ind... more What accounts for the uptick of political trust in the Philippines? This study theorizes that individual subjective health combined with the extent of democratic (and nondemocratic political attitude) explains political trust in the Philippines. It hypothesizes that healthier authoritarian citizens are more likely to express favorable views towards political institutions because these individuals possess conservative values who put, among others, a premium on maintenance of order and stability. Such political values are activated upon the arrival of strongmen. Using data from the 2019 World Values Survey, estimates strongly support such an argument. The novel operationalization of this study nuances the view of citizen attitudes on political trust in developing democracies. Overall, the main results not only add credence to the cultural origins of political trust, but it also illuminates on why Philippine political institutions remain trusted despite the botched pandemic response an...
IAFOR Journal of Education, 2017
This study explores how the decentralization law of 1991 in the Philippines has provided the cond... more This study explores how the decentralization law of 1991 in the Philippines has provided the conditions for the interface of higher education and politics by virtue of Local Government Units (LGUs) establishment of Local Colleges and Universities (LCUs). Anchored on educational politics framework, it specifically looks at the experience of Mandaue City which presently has two similarly named local colleges, one is Commission on Higher Education accredited and LGU supported, while the other has been deemed to have "no legal personality" but has persisted to operate nonetheless. This would create a conflict of legitimacy and later on manifest issues and challenges naturally beyond the immediate domain of education, but one that must be harnessed constructively given the realities of Philippine politics i.e. power struggle and political dynamics. The democratic opening engendered by the decentralization law to allow LGUs to establish post-secondary schools are beset with growing political tensions and contestations. Yet, there were also narratives and evidence of positive impact brought about by the decentralization of higher education. Using key informant interviews, focus group discussion and document reviews, this study contends that public educational ventures such as LCUs serve as a microcosm of the larger problem in Philippine higher education: improved access to higher education, but quality is deteriorating. As such, this study hopes to suggest several policy directions and practical considerations for national governments vis-à-vis the LGUs role as enabler and/or regulator of higher education.
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2021
Journal of East Asian Studies
This paper examines speechmaking on a contentious policy by arguably one of the most controversia... more This paper examines speechmaking on a contentious policy by arguably one of the most controversial figures to have assumed the Philippine presidency. Drawing on quantitative textual approaches on a corpus of 845 presidential speeches delivered between June 2016 and July 2020, we provide evidence that Rodrigo Duterte's evocative utterances against drug lords and criminals are not just deliberate illocutionary acts intended to court public support, but also priming tactics aimed towards a politically and economically significant audience whose acquiescence gives symbolic legitimacy to a controversial anti-crime policy. Using quantitative textual approaches and econometric analysis, we find that violent-crime rhetoric is more likely to accompany public pronouncements made before a political audience consisting of law enforcement authorities and government officials, as well as an economic audience made up of business chambers, overseas Filipino workers, and labor groups. Overall, t...
Although much of the researches on populism intimately delineates its relationship with democracy... more Although much of the researches on populism intimately delineates its relationship with democracy, few studies have been done relating it to human rights, which is presently under siege with the rise of populist leaders and groups. This paper seeks to examine the intersectionality of populism and human rights by looking at the case of the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte. The “new” ideational approach of populism analyzes populist ideas as latent demand or disposition that is activated and mobilized by populist actors, and appropriating the notion of “contestation.” This paper argues that Duterte’s populist political attitude is a mere reflection of the country’s authoritarian culture and illiberal values characterized, among others, by the disregard for liberal political institutions, norms, and practices. The failure of the liberal democratic regime to sufficiently respond to basic social ills was harnessed and mobilized by Duterte, the “strongman” from Davao, into political action. In addition, Duterte’s indifference and violative treatment of human rights as a principle and a standard that needs protection transpired in a highly unequal and elitist political system. This implies that turning against this populist challenge to human rights necessitates treating populism as an ideal that is initially hidden but must be surfaced. Also, although there needs to be continual opposition and contestation, there has to be an acknowledgment of populist’s structural contexts. Future studies could venture into quantification and measurement of empirical variables to complement the prevailing methodological vista of populism research in the Philippines.
Philippine Political Science Journal
Abstract This study aims to examine the experience of the local government of Sibonga, a municipa... more Abstract This study aims to examine the experience of the local government of Sibonga, a municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines in establishing the Sibonga Community College, a local public higher educational institution. Situating within the context of a Philippine local government and taking into account the political dynamics and existing structures of local power and authority, this study uses the systems approach of David Easton as framework of analysis as adapted by education scholars. Primarily, this study focuses on the processes and practices undertaken in the venture into higher education system by the local government. Methodologically, the study looks into the perceptions of local government officials, local line agency heads, teachers and administrators, students and graduates; and uses key informant interviews and focus group discussion. The findings suggest that the creation of the educational venture was susceptible to local political dynamics, a strong mayoral engagement and nuances of informal arrangements with a national agency on higher education. The local government, as the political system at the local level, remains a powerful site of delivering public goods and service. In addition, the venture was argued to be a form of policy innovation and good governance centered on the response to the higher education gap at the local level. As such, there needs to be improvements in local government units’ venture as provider of higher education at the local level, to match access goals with quality assurance, for an enhanced, rationalized and sustainable pursuit of higher education system in the country.
Studies on authoritarian values, which have mostly focused on authoritarian regimes and on democr... more Studies on authoritarian values, which have mostly focused on authoritarian regimes and on democracies with spells of authoritarianism, suggest trust in public institutions. However, limited empiri...
Journal of Asian Public Policy