A comparative study on political party development and democratization in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Abstract

This research study argues that the personalization of electoral politics, lack of genuine interparty competition, and the collusion of political parties undermine democratic consolidation in the Philippines and Indonesia. The points of connection between the Philippine and Indonesian parties show that the party systems in both countries are characterized by instability of interparty competition, collusion of parties, lack of real party platforms, the predominance of charismatic politicians and dynasties, the commercialization of electoral politics, and money politics, i.e., the collaboration of politicians and venture capitalists. These are just some of the features of a political phenomenon analyzed in this dissertation: the emergence of personalized electoral politics and collusive political parties in the Philippines and Indonesia.