APC publishes Scopus Indexed journal article on term limits and political dynasties

A paper by the Ateneo Policy Center was recently published in the latest volume of the Asia-Pacific Social Science Review (APSSR) – a Scopus indexed peer-reviewed journal by the De la Salle University.
 
The paper entitled “Term Limits and Political Dynasties in the Philippines: Unpacking the Links”, co-authored by Dr. Ronald Mendoza (Dean and Professor at Ateneo School of Government), Miann Banaag (former Research Associate of the Ateneo Policy Center, Joshua Hiwatig (Graduate of AIM’s MS Data Science Program) Atty. Michael Henry Yusingco (Non-Resident Research Fellow of the Policy Center of ASoG), and Jurel Yap (Research Associate at Ateneo Policy Center), was published in the December 2020 issue of the APSSR.
 
The paper reviews the empirical evidence linking political dynasties in the Philippines to the imposition of term limits under the 1987 Constitution. It finds evidence that political clans have found a way around this Constitutional constraint by fielding more family members in power—giving rise to more fat political dynasties. The research team argued that the introduction of term limits—combined with the failure to introduce other ancillary reforms (notably an anti-dynasty law)—may have brought about instead some unintended consequences. They further argued that it is a non sequitur to argue that dynasties will be curbed by removing term limits. They concluded that real reforms should be focused not on removing term limits, but on further strengthening those reforms that should have accompanied it, including enhancing competition in the political sphere, such as by supplying alternative leaders, strengthening political parties, and regulating political dynasties.
 
The article can be accessed at https://apssr.com/volume-20-no-4/term-limits-and-political-dynasties-in-the-philippines-unpacking-the-links/