Religious Protection from Populist Violence

The Catholic Church and the Philippine Drug War

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6231957
AutoresSteven Brooke (0000-0001-9646-5045, University of Wisconsin–Madison, autor de correspondencia), David T Buckley (0000-0001-6658-5425, University of Louisville Hospital, autor de correspondencia), David Buckley (0000-0002-6514-2208, University of Louisville), Clarissa David (Ateneo School of Government), Clarissa C David (0000-0002-3905-4239, Ateneo de Manila University, autor de correspondencia), Ronald U Mendoza (0000-0003-2683-7303, Ateneo de Manila University, autor de correspondencia), Ronald Mendoza (Ateneo School of Government)
Año2023
Volumen67
Número1
Páginas205-220
Fecha de publicación2023-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAmerican Journal of Political Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0092-5853 • E-ISSN: 1540-5907
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/ajps.12669
OpenAlexW3212176314
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas67

Populists often demonize outgroups while undermining institutions that protect citizens against the abuse of state power. Under these conditions, how can vulnerable communities protect themselves? We argue that actors coupling a normative commitment to human rights with the local organizational capacity to intervene can systematically reduce victimization. Focusing on the Philippine Catholic Church in the country's ongoing “drug war,” we identify five potential mechanisms producing protection. Directly, these actors can raise attention, offer sanctuary, or disrupt enforcement, while indirectly they can shrink vulnerable populations and build local solidarity. We evaluate this argument with a mixed‐method research design. A new dataset of over 2,000 drug war killings throughout Metro Manila shows that neighborhoods with a Catholic parish experience approximately 30% fewer killings than those without. Original interviews with clergy and laity in these parishes support both direct and indirect mechanisms, with strongest evidence for attention raising and building community solidarity

Argument (complex analysis · Criminology · Enforcement · Law enforcement · Normative · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Sociology · Solidarity · State (computer science · Asian Studies and History · Law · Philippine History and Culture · Political Conflict and Governance