Introducing Prof Julio Teehankee, SEAC Visiting Senior Fellow and Professor of Political Science and International Studies at De La Salle University (DLSU).
1. What will you be working on during your time as SEAC Visiting Fellow?
I will work on the issue of democratic ambivalence and authoritarian nostalgia in the context of the unprecedented political comeback of the Marcos dynasty in the Philippines. On May 25, 2022, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., son and namesake of the late dictator, was proclaimed by Congress as the 17th president of the Republic of the Philippines. His landslide victory in the presidential election was astounding, coming 36 years after his family was ousted from the presidential palace in a military-backed people power uprising. It remains to be seen whether he will follow his father’s path, but his presidency might also highlight democratic resilience in the country – Filipino democracy against the odds.
2. What led you to your field of study/what inspired your interest in these topics?
I am a political scientist specializing in Philippine politics and government, with a particular focus on issues of popular participation, governance, democratization, and contested institutions. I belong to the generation of Filipinos who came to age under the Marcos dictatorship and was an active participant in the democratic struggle. I need to take stock of the recent tectonic shift in Philippine politics. I believe that SEAC would provide me haven to do my research, reflection, and writing on the future of democracy in the Philippines.
3. How do you like to relax and unwind?
I love to read, sing, and dine. I occasionally enjoy a good drink. I’m also a movie and TV buff.
