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Superficial Consolidation: Security Sector Governance and the Executive Branch in the Philippines Today

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Book cover Security Sector Reform in Southeast Asia

Part of the book series: Critical Studies of the Asia Pacific Series ((CSAP))

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Abstract

Civilian control of the military is a sine qua non for democratic consolidation. In the Philippines, the armed forces have played a major role in the country’s authoritarian past. Yet, despite the advent of democracy, vestiges of authoritarianism have persisted. This chapter analyzes the successes and failures in the efforts of Philippine civilians — through the executive branch — to gain authority over their military, with the objective of achieving consolidated democratic rule. The Philippines provides an interesting case for the analysis of executive-security sector relations, precisely because since 1986 the executive has succeeded, more or less, in keeping the armed forces under control. As such, the lessons learned in this study can shed insight on other country cases. The analysis derives from a conception of civilian control that acknowledges the importance of security sector governance/reform, especially with regard to the need for civilians to achieve supremacy over the military. Generally, the executive branch is important for SSR because it is only in the executive branch that civilians directly stand as superiors to the armed forces. As such, executive branch civilians are in the best location to attempt to rein in the armed forces. The implementation of SSR requires the successful use of executive control strategies to rein in the military.

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  1. Paul Chambers
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  1. University of Birmingham, UK

    Felix Heiduk (Lecturer) (Lecturer)

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© 2014 Paul Chambers

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Chambers, P. (2014). Superficial Consolidation: Security Sector Governance and the Executive Branch in the Philippines Today. In: Heiduk, F. (eds) Security Sector Reform in Southeast Asia. Critical Studies of the Asia Pacific Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137365491_5

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