Ateneo School of Government releases new working paper on Philippine Democracy

In September 2025,  the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG), through the Ateneo Policy Center (APC), released a new working paper titled Philippine Observatory on Democracy: Interrogating Attitudes, Behaviors, and Practices of Democracy, authored by Philip Arnold P Tuaño, PhD; Kier Jesse D Ballar, MSc; and Misha L. Segarra.

The study provides a closer examination of the democratic landscape in the Philippines, focusing on how Filipinos in urban centers perceive and participate in democracy today. Drawing on a multi-stage, probability-based survey conducted in Naga City, Metro Manila, Cebu City, Davao City, and Zamboanga City, the report presents descriptive insights on early trends in civic participation, political engagement, institutional trust, and democratic values.

The working paper was also presented at the International Political Science Association (IPSA) World Congress in Seoul, South Korea, in July 2025. This release marks the first stage of a broader research agenda. Future studies will build on these initial findings by conducting deeper inferential and qualitative analyses to further explore the evolving meaning and practice of democracy in the country.

The research is part of the Philippine Observatory on Democracy, a Jesuit-led initiative by Ateneo universities and partner organizations. The observatory aims to produce evidence, encourage discussion, and motivate collective actions toward creating a more inclusive, fair, and democratic Philippines.