Da Silva, Marko Antonio, and Culala, Harold John (2017) Media and Neoliberalism in the Time of Duterte. In: [Presented at the 17th Biennial International Conference on Media and Communication]. From: MENTION2017: 17th Biennial International Conference on Media and Communication, 20-22 November 2017, Putrajaya, Malaysia.

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Abstract

This paper explores current Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s seeming opposition against the mainstream media. It aims to further analyse the relationship between the media and the Duterte government using Neoliberalism as its theoretical lens. President Duterte often labels the media as an unreliable and biased platform. Moreover, some of these platforms are labeled as “neoliberal” by Duterte’s supporters; in their context the term “neoliberal” is often construed as “anti-duterte” or “dilawan” (yellow follower) (i.e. a supporter of the past Aquino administration which yellow is the campaign colour of President Aquino). Historically, the Philippines has long been exposed to Neoliberalism; and many politicians and academics have claimed that the country has suffered some economic repercussions because of it. Neoliberalism paved way for foreign direct investments, large entries of imported goods, laissez-faire economics, and globalization. Further, one of the key features of Neoliberalism is its high regard on the privatization and commercialization of public utilities (e.g. mass transportation, healthcare, education). Neoliberalism aims to limit the state’s role and ownership to these types of enterprises – among these is the Media. Because of the state’s limitations under this framework, it is not rare to find liberated and opinionated insights circulating freely alongside the news in Philippine Media. This resulted to the unregulated dissemination of contrasting views from different news outlets. From this phenomenon arose the criticisms put forward by President Duterte. Thus, we analyse the basis of his criticisms and look on to the reasons why many scholars claim that he is against neo-liberalism, and to some extent, a populist president akin to the likes of President Donald Trump of the US and Chancellor Xi of China

Item ID:	81736
Item Type:	Conference Item (Presentation)
Keywords:	Socio-Political Philosophy, Neoliberalism, Mainstream Media, Duterte, Philippine Media, Communication Policy
Date Deposited:	25 Mar 2024 01:25
FoR Codes:	50 PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES > 5003 Philosophy > 500321 Social and political philosophy @ 50% 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4408 Political science > 440811 Political theory and political philosophy @ 50%
SEO Codes:	23 LAW, POLITICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES > 2302 Government and politics > 230203 Political systems @ 100%
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