Modern Philippine society presents a number of traits that have puzzled or fascinated social scientists: an apparent looseness of organization, institutional fuzziness, intense factionalism, moral values geared toward smooth interpersonal interaction, a weak sense of public good, and a bilateral kinship system. This article revisits these points and makes sense of them by using a model of society called "anarchic" or "open-aggregated." This conceptual grid applies to other societies and cultures, but is particularly enlightening with respect to Filipino values, their institutional style, and preferred types of behavior. Particular attention is paid to kinship and politics, to pakikisama and utang na loob, and generally to an ethos of communitas and Gemeinshaft prevalent among Filipinos.
Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints is an internationally refereed journal that publishes scholarly articles and other materials on the history of the Philippines and its peoples, both in the homeland and overseas. It believes the past is illuminated by historians as well as scholars from other disciplines; at the same time, it prefers ethnographic approaches to the history of the present. It welcomes works that are theoretically informed but not encumbered by jargon. It promotes a comparative and transnational sensibility, and seeks to engage scholars who may not be specialists on the Philippines. Founded in 1953 as Philippine Studies, the journal is published quarterly by the Ateneo de Manila University.
The School of Social Sciences is a constituent member of the Loyola Schools of the Ateneo de Manila University. It houses the seven academic disciplines of Communication, Economics, Education, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology-Anthropology as well as the five interdisciplinary programs of Chinese Studies, Development Studies, European Studies, Japanese Studies, and Southeast Asian Studies. It is committed to equip individuals and communities with perspectives and skills for local, national, and global transformation. It pursues this mission through multidisciplinary teaching, research, creative work, and outreach initiatives, prepares individuals to be competent, ethical, and responsive to local and global social realities. It is guided by the Jesuit tradition of excellence, service, and the promotion of justice.
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Philippine Studies: Historical & Ethnographic Viewpoints
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