E. II.8.a. Resisting Marcos, 1983-86

Volume One -> E. Resisting Oppressive, Dictatorial, Military or Authoritarian Rule -> E. II. Asia (and Australasia) -> E. II.8. The Philippines: 1983-86 and 2001 -> E. II.8.a. Resisting Marcos, 1983-86

The people power movement has been well covered by the literature on civil resistance – partly because it provided an impressive example of unarmed mobilization, which influenced many later people power protests, and also because the Aquino family and the Catholic resisters consciously adhered to nonviolent principles and took part in training sessions on nonviolent action organised, including some organised by an affiliate of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation. The events of 1986 have also been described and analysed in the broader literature on politics and rebellion.

Lee, Terence The Armed Forces and Transitions from Authoritarian Rule, Vol. 42, issue 5 (May), 2009 , pp. 640-669

Arillo, Cecilio Breakaway: The Inside Story of the Four Day Revolution in the Philippines, February 22-25 1986, Manila, CTA and Associates, 1986 , pp. 288

Account focusing primarily on role of military and using extensive military sources, but also discusses the role of people power.
Bello, Walden From the ashes: The rebirth of the Philippine revolution – a review essay, Vol. 8, issue 1 (January), 1986 , pp. 258-276

Leftist academic discusses sympathetically the role of the left and armed revolution in the countryside, but also explores the ‘legal, semi-legal and clandestine mass struggles in the cities’. Notes the creation by 1975 of a militant workers’ movement and the 1975 year-long wave of over 400 strikes, as well as networks among Catholics, professionals and students.
Bello, Walden Aquino’s elite populism: Initial reflections, Vol. 8, issue 3 (July), 1986 , pp. 1020-1030

Observes that Cory Aquino’s movement seen as a third force by the US, though author rebuts US claims to have supported her before the fall of Marcos. Describes movement as ‘a genuine populist phenomenon’ with base in urban middle class, bringing onto the streets the lower middle class, unemployed workers and shanty town residents. Aquino avoided ties to the left, and did not need them to win the election, though – Bello claims – the left had paved the way for her ultimate success.
Cortright, David; Watts, Max Left Face: Soldier Unions and Resistance Movements in Modern Armies, Westport CT, Greenwood Press, 1991 , pp. 296

The chapter ‘The Philippines: another Portugal?’, pp. 220-28, challenges the view that the Reformed Armed Forces Movement was ever a revolutionary movement, concluding ‘The primary thrust for the overthrow of Marcos and the installation of Cory Aquino came from the people themselves, notably the church and the middle classes’.
Ellwood, Douglas Philippines Revolution 1986: Model of Nonviolent Change, Quezon City, Philippines, New Day Publishers, 1986 , pp. 60

Includes material on role of local peace movement, nonviolence training and a 1983 statement on ‘creative nonviolence’.
Fenton, James The snap revolution, issue 18, 1986 , pp. 33-155

Johnson, Bryant The Four Days of Courage: The Untold Story of the People Who Brought Marcos Down, New York, Free Press, 1987 , pp. 290

Emphasis on role of military and Catholic Church.
Komisar, Lucy Corazon Aquino: The Story of a Revolution, New York, George Brazillier, 1987 , pp. 290

Discusses role of Benigno Aquino and Corazon Aquino’s involvement in politics; pp. 105-23 focus on mutiny and popular protests.
Mendoza, Amado ”People Power” in the Philippines, 1983-86, In Timothy Garton Ash, Adam Roberts, Civil Resistance and Power Politics: The Experience of Non-violent Action from Gandhi to the Present (A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements) Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2009 , pp. 179-190

Discusses if the role of civil resistance from 1983 onwards ‘derived from a principled rejection of violence, or from particular strategic, moral, and cultural considerations’. Suggests all relevant to the moderate coalition against Marcos. Also discusses crucial role of US government – though divided – and notes the continuing problems facing Philippine democracy.
People Power: An Eyewitness History: The Philippine Revolution of 1986, ed. Mercado, Monina, Manila and New York, J.B. Reuter and Writers and Readers Publishing, 1987 , pp. 320

Pascual, Dette Organizing “People Power” in the Philippines, Vol. 1, issue 1 (winter), 1990 , pp. 102-109

Brief but illuminating account, by the founder and chair of the National Women’s Movement for the Nurturance of Democracy in the Philippines, of the role played by her organization and two related civil society groups between 1983 and 1986.
Schwenk, Richard Onward Christians! Protestants in the Philippines Revolution, Quezon City, Philippines, New Day Publishers, 1986 , pp. 102

Examines role of various Protestant groups and stresses Christian basis of nonviolence.
Thompson, Mark The Anti-Marcos Struggle: Personalistic Rule and Democratic Transition in the Philippines, New Haven CT, Yale University Press, 1995 , pp. 225

Zunes, Stephen The origins of People Power in the Philippines, In Stephen Zunes, Lester R. Kurtz, Sarah Beth Asher, Nonviolent Social Movements: A Geographical Perspective (A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements) London, Blackwell, 1999 , pp. 129-157

Websites recommended

Aquino’s elite populism: Initial reflections , 1986

Observes that Cory Aquino’s movement seen as a third force by the US, though author rebuts US claims to have supported her before the fall of Marcos. Describes movement as ‘a genuine populist phenomenon’ with base in urban middle class, bringing onto the streets the lower middle class, unemployed workers and shanty town residents. Aquino avoided ties to the left, and did not need them to win the election, though – Bello claims – the left had paved the way for her ultimate success.
Breakaway: The Inside Story of the Four Day Revolution in the Philippines, February 22-25 1986 Manila CTA and Associates, 1986

Account focusing primarily on role of military and using extensive military sources, but also discusses the role of people power.
Corazon Aquino: The Story of a Revolution New York George Brazillier, 1987

Discusses role of Benigno Aquino and Corazon Aquino’s involvement in politics; pp. 105-23 focus on mutiny and popular protests.
From the ashes: The rebirth of the Philippine revolution – a review essay , 1986

Leftist academic discusses sympathetically the role of the left and armed revolution in the countryside, but also explores the ‘legal, semi-legal and clandestine mass struggles in the cities’. Notes the creation by 1975 of a militant workers’ movement and the 1975 year-long wave of over 400 strikes, as well as networks among Catholics, professionals and students.
Left Face: Soldier Unions and Resistance Movements in Modern Armies Westport CT Greenwood Press, 1991

The chapter ‘The Philippines: another Portugal?’, pp. 220-28, challenges the view that the Reformed Armed Forces Movement was ever a revolutionary movement, concluding ‘The primary thrust for the overthrow of Marcos and the installation of Cory Aquino came from the people themselves, notably the church and the middle classes’.
Onward Christians! Protestants in the Philippines Revolution Quezon City, Philippines New Day Publishers, 1986

Examines role of various Protestant groups and stresses Christian basis of nonviolence.
Organizing “People Power” in the Philippines , 1990

Brief but illuminating account, by the founder and chair of the National Women’s Movement for the Nurturance of Democracy in the Philippines, of the role played by her organization and two related civil society groups between 1983 and 1986.
People Power: An Eyewitness History: The Philippine Revolution of 1986 Manila and New York J.B. Reuter and Writers and Readers Publishing, 1987
Philippines Revolution 1986: Model of Nonviolent Change Quezon City, Philippines New Day Publishers, 1986

Includes material on role of local peace movement, nonviolence training and a 1983 statement on ‘creative nonviolence’.
The Anti-Marcos Struggle: Personalistic Rule and Democratic Transition in the Philippines New Haven CT Yale University Press, 1995
The Armed Forces and Transitions from Authoritarian Rule , 2009
The Four Days of Courage: The Untold Story of the People Who Brought Marcos Down New York Free Press, 1987

Emphasis on role of military and Catholic Church.
The origins of People Power in the Philippines London Blackwell, 1999
The snap revolution , 1986
”People Power” in the Philippines, 1983-86 Oxford Oxford University Press, 2009

Discusses if the role of civil resistance from 1983 onwards ‘derived from a principled rejection of violence, or from particular strategic, moral, and cultural considerations’. Suggests all relevant to the moderate coalition against Marcos. Also discusses crucial role of US government – though divided – and notes the continuing problems facing Philippine democracy.

See also:

A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements
Ackerman, Peter; Duvall, Jack, A Force More Powerful: A Century of Nonviolent Conflict, (A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements), pp. 369-95
E. II.2.a. The Long Struggle to Topple Suharto 1988-1998
Boudreau, Vincent, Resisting Dictatorship: Repression and Protest in Southeast Asia, (E. II.2.a. The Long Struggle to Topple Suharto 1988-1998), ch. 6 on martial law period and protests, pp. 134-61, and ch. 8 ‘People Power and Insurgency in the Philippine transition’, pp. 176-89.
A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements
Chenoweth, Erica; Stephan, Maria, Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict, (A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements), pp. 147-71
A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements
Martin, Brian, Nonviolent Struggle and Social Defence, (A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements), Maria Serena Diokno, pp. 24-29, http://www.wri-irg.org/books/nvsd.htm#Heading9
A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements
Sharp, Gene, Waging Nonviolent Struggle: 20th Century Practice and 21st Century Potential, (A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements), pp. 239-44
A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements
Thompson, Mark, Democratic Revolutions: Asia and Eastern Europe, (A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements), ‘The Puzzle of the Philippines People Power’, pp. 18-34 and also pp. 35-50 comparing Corazon Aquino, Benazir Bhutto and Aung San Suu Kyi.
A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements
Schock, Kurt, Unarmed Insurrections: People Power Movements in Nondemocracies, (A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements), pp. 68-90