The Return of the Political: Chantal Mouffe and Ozamiz city Politics

Year 2019, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 56 - 81, 01.10.2019

Gerry Arambala

Abstract

For nearly two decades, Ozamiz city was ruled by a
political dynasty whose predatory politics has brought about the radical
deficit of democracy in the state. Politics in the city is characterized with
political harassments and violence. For three decades the ruling family
succeeded in reformulating the democratic values of popular sovereignty and
political antagonism in the city’s democratic institutions, that they were able
to rule the city without any threats of popular uprising and protestations.
With their political machinery they were able to hostage the people of Ozamiz;
often denying most of the citizens’ freedom to insist on their fundamental
democratic rights and entitlements. However, with the advent of the radical
leadership exemplified by Chief Inspector Jovi Espenido, the fate of democracy
in the city is changed from an authoritarian predatory system to a more open
and democratic system. From a predatory state ruled by warlords and power
predators to a liberal democratic state which embraces the fundamental
democratic principles of liberty and equality.  This paper intends to examine the state of
politics of Ozamiz city following Chantal Mouffe’s radical democratic paradigm.
It aims to elucidate how Mouffe’s antagonistic democracy fits to the state of
politics in Ozamiz after the progressive leadership of Jovi Espinido was
realized. 

Keywords

Ozamiz city, Political dynasty, Chantal Mouffe, Radical Democracy, Warlords

References

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