ABOUT THE BOOK

This volume on comparative politics and government seeks to elaborate and supplement analytical tools and frameworks in which developing countries could be compared. Of major concern is to be able to use this in understanding what have been the problems in the process of development and democratization of developing regions. The articles also seek to provide a basis by which the reader could also critically examine the views presented by the different authors and note their relevance or irrelevance in comprehending similar situations as experiences in developing societies. This will also hopefully inspire alternative conceptual tools and paradigms in examining factors that facilitate as well as hinder the pursuit of development and democracy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Perlita M. Frago-Marasigan is Associate Professor of Political Science at the Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines Diliman. She has been teaching at the department since 1999. She was also former Deputy Director of the UP Third World Studies Center (TWSC) from May 2000 to May 2003, October 2012 to April 2013, and June 2013 to June 2014.

Associate Professor Frago obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy in 1991 and her Master’s degree in Public Administration from the National College of Public Administration and Governance in 1999 from the same university where she teaches. From 2003 to 2006, she pursued her Doctor of Political Science degree at the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies at Kobe University, Japan.

She has taught a variety of subjects in political science since 1999. These include Philippine government and politics, Philippine local and national administration, Philippine national and local administration, social, economic and political thought, qualitative research methods, Philippine political thought, comparative politics and the politics of media. Her research interests include media studies, civil society and globalization studies, and environmental studies. She has been involved in various research projects on the following themes: media and Philippine politics, civil society and the globalization discourse, disaster management, local governance improvisations and human security issues in the case of super typhoon Yolanda.

Teresa S. Encarnacion Tadem, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus of Political Science, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD).

Dr. Encarnacion Tadem previously served in the following positions: 1) Executive Director of the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS), August 2017 to July 2023; 2) Chair, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman, 2000-2003; 3) Director, Third World Studies Center, CSSP, UP Diliman (2004-2010); 4) President, Philippine Political Science Association (2011-2013); and Vice-President, Philippine Social Sciences Council, 2011-2013.

She has published journal articles and book chapters on the following topics: the anti-globalization movements, global civil society movements, the Philippine cooperative movement, the Philippine left movement, Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and development in the Philippines, the anti-ADB campaigns in Thailand, the Philippine technocracy, middle-class politics in the Philippines, the Philippines and WTO negotiations, the politics of water privatization.