FLOODING in social media once again are reports of political clans poising for the 2019 elections. Apparently, the issue is not new. In fact, Philippine politics has been family-based or clannish since time immemorial. A major issue that refuses to go away especially during election season is the increasing number of political dynasties.
The term political dynasty has been defined in various literature. But for the purpose of this write-up, let us define it as the domination of a family or a clan in a certain geopolitical set-up. Such domination encompasses a vast network of power relations including but not limited to the governmental structure, businesses, industries, and other formal and informal spheres of relationships that are in one way or another under the jurisdiction of the state.
Political dynasties are established mainly for a reason: perpetuation in power. Competence and service are not really the main concerns. After all, anyone who has the drive to competence can always pursue such a goal in other fields in life. In fact it would be tempting to conclude that the term competent politician is a polite oxymoron. All the more, service is apparently a ridiculous reason for staying long in power. The perfect examples of service are the founders of the major religious traditions, the saints, and martyrs. All of them ended their lives in sobriety, contemplation, and charity.
So our country is in a situation where we know that we are fooled but that we seem not to know as to what must be done. On second thought though, it is not that people do not know as to what to do with the issue. The sad truth is that they know that there is something problematic with dynasties and yet they believe that there is no other better option.
From a formalist and legalist point of view, political dynasties contradict a number of democratic values. Basically, politics is not a family business. As a public activity it cannot be the monopoly of private individuals. This however is acceptable in theory. In reality, Philippine politics has been caught in a web of complications caused by clans and kinships.
Certain political scientists and historians believe that Philippine politics cannot but be dynastic. Analyzing through the lens of culture, the argument is all things including those that are formal and legal are transacted in personal terms. Politics therefore cannot be an exception.
While I agree that culture cannot be legislated, and in fact legislations are but expressions of our culture, still there is something unacceptable with the way politics, especially elections, is done in this country. From an ethical point of view politics is supposed to serve the common good not individual or partisan interests.
There is a need for a much bigger critique. It is not enough to only criticize political dynasties. We also need to critique the way we conceptualize the family. On the one hand the family can be a source of strength but on the other hand it can also be very limiting if not enslaving. It is nice to love our family but not to the point that we only love our own to the exclusion of others. An expansive view of a family can build communities. But there is also a danger whenever our family makes us naïve, selfish, and entitled.
Contributing to our over-valuing of the family are deeply engrained cultural factors. Religion may even be a contributor also. But just because this is the situation – does not mean that we can and should allow the problems to continue and all the more worsen. It is therefore necessary and important to sustain the critique not only of the political structure or system but also culture itself.
Election in a democratic context is not a family affair, and politics is not a family business.