ABSTRACT
This chapter characterises the uneven trajectory of deliberative democracy in the Philippines. It begins by tracing the development of deliberative norms from anti-colonial movements and post-colonial builders of liberal institutions to structured and everyday practices of deliberation in contemporary times. It identifies the tensions these practices face with the rise, fall and return of authoritarian politics and investigates the prospect of deliberative democracy in a public sphere that is compromised by disinformation networks and illiberal policies. Ultimately, this chapter argues that the uneven trajectory of deliberative democracy in the Philippines is both a strength and weakness in accounting for Philippine democracy’s resilience amidst troubling times.
