Nagallo, Alfred Aikman P.

AB-POLSCI 1-A
PSC225A: Introduction to Politics and Governance May 26, 2022

Politics of Anxiety, Politics of Hope: Penal Populism and Duterte’s Rise to Power: A
Critical Analysis

Introduction

The article, "Politics of Anxiety, Politics of Hope: Penal Populism and Duterte’s Rise to
Power" by Nicole Curato, examines the political concepts and statements of beliefs that are
present in the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. The article was authored by Dr. Nicola Paula
Cayco Curato, a well-known sociologist and a research fellow at the University of Canberra,
Australia. The author is an alumni of the University of the Philippines, Diliman. She is
known for her academic work on sociology and democratic matters. The article was
published on the 6th of October, 2016, after Dr. Curato completed the article at De La Salle
University in Manila. It was featured in different journals that highlight sociology and
political science.

In the article featured, the main ideas we get are direct and straightforward, with
contemporary politics as its main subject. The content of the article and its coverage are
centred upon Philippine politics in a general sense. It widely discusses the concept of
populism and its constituents in the Philippine setting. The manifestation of populism in
Duterte's presidency, the notion of electoral politics, and some contributing factors to
Duterte’s electoral victory are among the interesting main ideas that Dr. Curato presents in
the article. The application of political logic in examining the president's political power and
influence is also an excellent coverage done by the author. From what we can make out from
the author, she provided informative texts on examining populism and Duterte's influence
before and during his presidency, with the usage of political logic, first-hand accounts from
individuals, and ethnographic fieldwork data.

At this point, the article "Politics of Anxiety, Politics of Hope: Penal Populism and Duterte’s
Rise to Power" by Cunato serves as my basis for analysis of its content. The analysis shall
provide an overview of how the concept of populism is a general characteristic of Duterte's
presidency with information on what series of events led to it. In addition to focusing on
concepts, it will elaborate on the use of political logic to elaborate on the concept of
populism.
Nagallo, Alfred Aikman P. AB-POLSCI 1-A
PSC225A: Introduction to Politics and Governance May 26, 2022

Summary

In the article, Dr. Cunato brought up an informative coverage focusing on a contemporary

political issue that is prevalent in President Duterte's presidency. The article introduced
President Duterte's unorthodox political approach that many are familiar with ever since he
stepped into the presidency back in 2016. With his political approach justified by a strong
level of public support, who pretty much have a strong system of belief in Duterte's promises
and aspirations for the country. Though, these supporters have been proven in many online
forums to have their moralities compromised, to the point that they are collectively referred
to as political retards who are enablers of unjustifiable actions or crime. Basically, the article
is focused on Duterte's adherents who have been essential in his political campaign. The
author utilized political logic and various reliable methods to examine the logic behind these
supporters, with the author arguing that the support for Duterte is a result of the politics of
anxiety and the politics of hope in action, wherein both political logics mutually function.
The concept of populism was brought up over the politics of anxiety. Punitive politics and its
application in the on-going campaign against drugs correlate to the politics of anxiety and the
politics of hope, with the former being an integral part of penal populism, considering that the
battle against illegal drugs and crime falls under the politics of anxiety.

Populism, as the author put it, served as a primary factor in this political phenomenon. Penal
Populism specifically covers this contemporary circumstance, since the government under
Duterte shifted to a much harsher approach for social control and security, since the public
demanded for a tougher approach on resolving crime (Pratt, 2007). In this manner, it enabled
the frustrated public to voice their concerns with hopes of resolution.

Under populism, political discourse has become apparently rough due to the populist appeal
for the unconventional methods of Duterte. (Moffitt, 2015). The populist public appeal for
tough approaches to issues is due to promises of justice. Constituents in a populist setting are
known for their poor political judgement, as shown in their support for politicians who take
advantage of them. This is a form of patronage and personalistic politics, made quite evident
in the political influences of Estrada and Binay, whose types of populism border upon
Duterte's type of populism that is connected to politics of anxiety and politics of hope.
Nagallo, Alfred Aikman P. AB-POLSCI 1-A
PSC225A: Introduction to Politics and Governance May 26, 2022

Throughout the article's methodology, the author presented qualitative data and ethnographic
research that were utilized to gather insights about the populist public's support for Duterte
and for a systemic examination of the logic behind populism and its constituents. The author
made great use of respondents from slums to identify the impact of illegal drug use in poor
communities in a socio-political context as well as a social context.

The subsequent coverage of the article featured the political logic, which is the politics of
anxiety and hope. The former being a political thought with punitory foundations centred
upon crisis and being invoked by aversion against criminality that brought up populist
narratives that intend to seek for urgent solutions to resolve national issues. The latter;
politics of hope, was discussed in a complex method due to its applications in different
contexts. Unlike the former, this political logic voices the aspirations of the populist public; it
gives them a sense of reclaiming and improving democratic agency. Through these acts, the
public regains their respect and responsibility for political destiny. The politics of hope
basically revitalizes the political efficacy of citizens.

Analysis

In general, the article presented by Doctor Cunato is an excellent read. Just like any other
academic article, it also has its own fair share of ideas I agree and disagree with. What I
appreciate about the article is the topic it covers, its basis upon contemporary matters
supported by data and information that I personally agree with really kindles my interest in
the concept of populism in Duterte's presidency, even though the political approach's concept
is new to me, yet graspable in a way that I can relate to it. The immersive and informative
nature of the academic article carefully explains how populism, the populist public, and
political influence come together, as well as how one could apply political logic when it
comes to explaining political behavior. Besides tackling the aforementioned concepts, I favor
how the author presented the political background of President Rodrigo Duterte. The
informative approach to examining his unconventional political style certainly piques my
interest in populism and socio-political behavior. What I argue, however, is the notion that
the mutually-reinforcing logics of politics are mostly used in the article, rather than other
significant factors that explain and further elaborate on penal populism.
Nagallo, Alfred Aikman P. AB-POLSCI 1-A
PSC225A: Introduction to Politics and Governance May 26, 2022

Though the usage of political logics was primarily used, they are still significant in
examining Duterte's penal populism, considering that these logics are the foundations of it,
with each logic having some form of mutual function. For instance, the politics of anxiety
incited Duterte's brutal war on drugs and crime, since it puts emphasis on crisis, therefore
creating urgency for a resolution on the issue. The politics of hope, on the other hand, gave
the public some aspirations for their future, thus enhancing the citizen's political efficacy and
democratic agency overall.

The author had achieved her intended goal of critically examining the phenomena of
populism under Duterte's presidency with the use of political logic. The arguments she
presented in the article, such as her rationalization on why the politics of hope and politics of
anxiety are present factors in Duterte's populist public, prove how serious the issue is, which
is why the hope for a resolution was made evident by the application of politics of hope. The
author's overall argument on underpinning Duterte's penal populism comes justified with her
application of political logic on characterising penal populism and its relationship with the
populist public.

Conclusion

In conclusion to this analysis, it provided an informative overview of the concept of populism

as a component of the presidency of Duterte. Data and information were carefully gathered
with the use of political concepts, such as the application of political logic to enlighten
readers on how populism came through and manifested during the president's term.

The main ideas we get from the article follow the context of Philippine politics. The didactic
method of the article covered various concepts, such as the relationship between populism
and the populist public. It also featured the essential role of electoral politics in populism, as
well as how political logic is applied to further elaborate on the concept of populism.

This excellent piece of academic work is an interesting point of interest that most learners can
relate to in Philippine politics. It piques the interest of individuals who strive for good
governance, since a stately government is considered a reflection of good politics free of
moral impurities.
Nagallo, Alfred Aikman P. AB-POLSCI 1-A
PSC225A: Introduction to Politics and Governance May 26, 2022

References

Curato, N. (2016), Politics of Anxiety, Politics of Hope: Penal Populism and Duterte’s Rise
to Power, in: Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 35, 3, 91–109.

Moffitt, B. (2016), The Global Rise of Populism: Performance, Political Style, and
Representation, Stanford: Stanford University Press.

Pratt, J. (2007), Penal Populism, London: Routledge.

Pulse Asia Research (2015), June 2015 Nationwide Survey on Urgent National Concerns, 24
September, online: <https://drive.google.com
/file/d/0B3b9qPFV1cRDcHBxa0J0Yzhid2c/view> (2015)

Pulse Asia Research (2016), July 2016 Nationwide Survey on the Trust Ratings of the Top 3
Philippine Government Officials and Filipinos’ Expectations of the New
Administration, online: <www.pulse asia.ph/july-2016-nationwide-survey-on-the-
trust-ratings-of-the-top -3-philippine-government-officials-and-filipinos-
expectations-of-the -new-administration/> (30 July 2016).

Pulse Asia Research (2016b), The ABS-CBN Pre-Electoral (April 26–29, 2016) National
Survey on the May 2016 Elections Conducted by Pulse Asia Research, Inc., online:
<www.pulseasia.ph/the-abs-cbnpre-electoral-april-26-29-2016-national-survey-on-
the-may-2016-elections-conducted-by-pulse-asia-research-inc/> (30 April 2016).

Pulse Asia Research (2016c), Pulse Asia Research’s January 2016 Nationwide Survey on
Urgent National Concerns to be Addressed by Presidential Candidates and Most
Important Consideration in Choosing a Presidential Candidate, online:
<www.pulseasia.ph/january-2016-nationwide-survey-on-urgent-national-concerns-
to-be-addressed-bypresidential-candidates-and-most-important-consideration-in-
choosing-a-presidential-candidate/> (29 February 2016)