ABSTRACT
The Philippines have had a habit of electing macho populists since electoral democracy was restored in 1986. This chapter investigates this phenomenon by focusing on the micro political foundations of populism in the Philippines and how populism descends into authoritarian practice. Drawing on sociological and media studies literature, the authors argue that populism is not a unilinear relationship where a populist leader such as Rodrigo Duterte commands the loyalty of a naïve constituency but one that is dynamic and reciprocally constructed in micropolitical and often overlooked ways. This essay outlines that populism in the Philippines is constituted by everyday demands of compassion over competence, indistinction between entertainment and politics, and the politicization of latent anxieties. By understanding the micro politics of populism, the chapter demonstrates how populist performances can result in legitimizing authoritarian practices and corroding democratic cultures.
