Lifeworld-Systems Analysis of People Power 2 and 3

• Main Author: Ibana, Rainier R. A.
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2024
• Subjects: civil society; EDSA Revolutions; Habermas; public sphere
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/kk/vol1/iss3/3; https://archium.ateneo.edu/context/kk/article/1022/viewcontent/_5BKKv00n03_2003_5D_202.2_Article_Ibana.pdf
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

This paper is an application of the Habermasian distinction between the traditional “lifeworld” context of the plebeian public sphere, on the one hand, and the modern social systems of the bourgeoisie, on the other hand, to the political culture of Philippine society. The tragedy of the Estrada presidency is attributed to his failure to come to terms with the modern differentiated public sphere of the middle classes as mediated by the forces of Civil Society and the modern economic system of the Makati business class. His unorganized and inarticulate plebeian constituencies are basically marginalized from these modern social systems. Their marginalization, along with the emotional rhetoric and unorganized mass action initiated by their leaders, led to their violent attempt to seize Malacanang Palace in May 1, 2001.