Rodrigo Duterte as Ideology: Academic vs. Social Media Myths and Representations and their Implications to Political Order

What is it about?

This article argues that Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte emerges as a cult-like figure who acquired the character of an ideology in a country that is known to look towards strong leaders despite its having a strong communitarian orientation. Myths and representations are constructed around him both in academia and in social media, with the former bearing critical discourses while the latter embodying the voices of his loyal political base. Both are involved in myth-making emanating from their own biases. This further makes Duterte into becoming a polarizing political figure that threatens to erode the sense of unity that subsists not on the grand narratives of the state, but on a strong sense of community. This will have serious implications on the establishment and maintenance of political order.

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