THE MIDDLE CLASSES IN PHILIPPINE POLITICS

MIDDLE

CLASS a fluid heterogeneous socio POLITICS AND SOCIAL MIDDLE CLASS a fluid heterogeneous CLASSESeconomic composed socio economic grouping grouping composed principally of principally of business and professional business and professional people, bureaucrats and some skilled people,who share common social workers bureaucrats and some characteristics and values. skilled workers who share common social characteristics and values.

POLITICS AND SOCIAL CLASSES

- In most societies, particularly inbasis of cleavage and most salient most salient and enduring developing one s, the conflict andtypically rests on cleavage and conflict typically rests on class enduring basis of class relations . - Class relations provide the major constraints in defining relations . the capacities and interests o factors in in defining the - Class relations provide the major constraints the society. capacities and interests o factors in the society.

- In most societies, particularly in developing one s, the

TWO APPROACHES IN UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL CLASS TWO APPROACHES IN UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF

SOCIAL CLASS
1.

GRADATIONAL APPROACH Class differ by 1. quantitative degree of some attributes suchby quantitative GRADATIONAL APPROACH Class differ as 1.degree of some attributes such as Income 2.1. Income Status 2. Status 3. Education
3. Education

- InIn this approach, the names of classes also the most societies, particularly in developing one s, have most quantitative character as cleavage and conflict a salient and enduring basis of typically rests on class relations . a. Upper class - Class relations provide the major constraints in b. definingUpper middle and interests o factors in the the capacities class c. society. middle class d. lower class TWO APPROACHES IN UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL CLASS 2. RELATIONAL APPROACH - classes are linked in social relations of production that are essentially 1. GRADATIONAL APPROACH Class differ by antagonist and exploitative. quantitative degree of some attributes such as - 1. Income Class relations generate opposing interest s and the realization of these interest necessarily results in some 2. Status kind of conflict. 3. Education

5 CONTENDING WAYS OF UNDERSTANDING THE MIDDLE CLASS

1. The simple polarization approach argues that class positions in capitalists societies such as those of professional and managerial wage earners which do not seem to belong to either the capitalist or working class albeit a privileged stratum of this class. 2. The middle class such as those engage in supervisory and mental labor are really closer structurally and ideologically to petty bourgeoisie. 3. Classifying those engage in professional and managerial work as belonging to as new class by virtue of their specialization. 4. there are certain social positions that are outside of the basic class relations and should be considered as middle strata rather than middle class. 5. Positions with a multiple class character driven by inherently contradictory interest.

THE MIDDLE CLASSES IN PHILIPPINE CONTEXT

- The middle classes have in fact played important roles in varying periods since the declaration of independence in 1946. 1. An educated middle class highly concentrated in Metro Manila emerged as early as the American colonial period due to a combination of a number of factors. 2. Significant political presence of the middle classes lies in the countries legacy of formal electoral democratic system. 3. The development and growth of a significant segment of the new and old middle class fractions outside of the direct control of the state enhanced the role of the middle class in waging political actions.

MIDDLE CLASS POLITICS DURING THE PERIOD OF FORMAL ELECTORAL DEMOCACY, 1946 - 1972

- During the postwar period up to 1972, middle class involvement in politics ranged from conservative to moderate and radical projects . The most compelling political issue focused on fleshing out a nationalist and democratic alternative political program to what was perceived as a government ran by the countries most powerful dynastic political clans largely subservient to American political and economic interests. - The middle class led political movements during this period deliberately sought and cultivated systematic linkages and coalitions with other social classes and sectors.

MIDDLE CLASS POLITICS DURING THE AUTHORITARIAN RULE OF MARCOS, 1972 - 1986
During the authoritarian rule of Marcos middle class politics took shape in the context of the struggle against the dictatorship. Rooted in the earlier alignment of political forces during the 60s. The organized involvement of middle class fractions against authoritarian rule was mediated through three basic political forces . 1. The Marxist Maoist organizations under the leadership of the new communist party 2. The Christian rooted political movements and parties. 3. The organizations propelled by liberal democratic ideologies =On the whole, the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship show cased the political strengths and weakness of the middle class.

MIDDLE CLASS POLITICS DURING THE POST MARCOS PRIOD SINCE 1989
With the relation of formal democratic rule following the popular ratification of a new constitution and the holding of electrons in 1987, the electoral system once again became the main arena for legitimizing political contestations in the country, for many middle class led organizations and middle class personalities, the opening up of democratic space and restorations of electoral contest in the post Marcos period signaled a serious re examination of strategies and tactics for political practice and contestations. Since the period of independence, middle class leadership of various kinds of political organizations, movements and parties have been pervasive and significant.

THE MIDDLE CLASSES AND THE RISE AND FALL OF ESTRADA

Riding high on a populist appeal to uplift the poor majority in the country, Joseph Ejercito Estrada better known as Erap won the Presidential elections in May 1998. He received 40 percent of the total votes cast and a huge margin more than 6 million votes over his closest rival. What was surprising about Estradas electoral victory was the creditable performance among the upper and middle class voters, a small fractions of the populations ( only about 12 percent) but is most moneyed and educated. In the mobilization against Estrada, middle class intellectuals and professionals assumed leaderships roles in the struggle. The most sophisticated intellectual defenders of Estrada also count some of the best middle class lawyers and professionals in the country.

CONCLUSION:
The middle classes played important roles in the most recent historic episodes of mass political struggles in the country: the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986 and the ouster of Estrada in 2001. The middle classes assumed leadership roles in various organizations and movements. The struggles against Estrada, the participation of the middle classes was enhanced by the largely decentralized nature of the mobilization process. The ouster of Estrada, however also underscores the weakness of existing political institutions. With the continuing ineptness of state agencies and the irresponsibility of many of the elites, middle class participation in politics can assume a number of trajectories.