THE PHILIPPINES AN ANATOMY OF MARCOS' "NEW SOCIETY"

This critical examination provides an anatomical analysis of Ferdinand Marcos' "New Society" regime in the Philippines, investigating its ideological claims, institutional structures, and actual performance during the early 1980s. The article explores the historical context of Marcos' declaration of martial law and the establishment of his "New Society" framework. The research investigates the ideological foundations of the regime, analyzing how it combined authoritarian modernization theory with nationalist rhetoric and anti-oligarchy appeals. The study examines the institutional architecture of Marcos' rule, including the constitutional framework, military structures, economic planning mechanisms, and social control systems. The article assesses the economic performance of the "New Society," evaluating claims of development achievement against evidence of crony capitalism, debt accumulation, and persistent poverty. The research also analyzes the social and political consequences of authoritarian rule, including human rights abuses, elite fragmentation, and emerging opposition movements. Furthermore, the evaluation considers the sustainability of the Marcos regime and identifies the contradictions that threatened its stability.

Ferdinand Marcos' "New Society" represented one of the most significant authoritarian experiments in Southeast Asia, with this article providing a comprehensive anatomical analysis of the regime during the early 1980s. The research begins by examining the historical context of Marcos' rise to power and his declaration of martial law in 1972, analyzing the political, economic, and social crises that provided the justification for authoritarian rule. The analysis explores the ideological framework of the "New Society," investigating how Marcos combined elements of developmental authoritarianism, Filipino nationalism, and anti-oligarchy rhetoric to legitimize his regime. The article examines the institutional structure of Marcos' rule, including the constitutional changes that concentrated power in the executive, the military reforms that expanded armed forces political role, and the economic planning mechanisms that directed development strategy. The study assesses the economic performance of the "New Society," analyzing both infrastructure achievements and the development of crony capitalism, foreign debt accumulation, and worsening income inequality. Based on the comprehensive assessment, the article identifies the fundamental contradictions of the Marcos regime that increasingly undermined its stability and legitimacy as it entered its second decade. The findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of authoritarian modernization in developing countries and contribute to understanding how personalist regimes manage and ultimately fail to resolve the tensions between development promises and political realities.