Thesis Statements 

1. Politics is the push and pull of power relations. Most political scientists focus on the politics of the state. The state is distinct from the nation. However, nationalism provides a discursive justification for many states. Although states can abuse their power, they remain necessary tools for social justice in a context of globalization. 

2. Nationalism is not an ideology, but a phenomenon best understood from the ground up. The nation is imagined, limited, seeks sovereignty, and inspires acts of love. Its roots can be traced to the twin phenomena of European print capitalism and the emergence of a creole governing class in Latin America. 

3. One can observe the most pressing political concerns of Filipinos locally. However, the nationalist bent of many political organizations and commentators has led to a neglect of local politics. An excessive focus on national politics prevents us from pursuing more sustainable political reform. 

4. The EDSA revolution not only ended Marcos’s authoritarianism, it also weakened the influence of Communism on civil society. The democratic openings created by EDSA have allowed for new social movements that are more willing to strengthen democratic institutions. 

5. The elite democracy framework is the most commonly used lens to understand Philippine politics. It argues that a self-perpetuating oligarchy dominates the Philippines. Elite families deploy rent-seeking strategies to benefit themselves economically and politically. 

6. The Philippines exhibits a weak state and a strong society. 

7. The Communist Party of the Philippines draws its ideology from Marx, Lenin, and Mao. Its emphasis on revolution and the complete negation of the Philippine state precludes it from constructively engaging democratic institutions. 

 8. The notion of civil society as a middle ground between the market and government leads to an inaccurate view of Philippine politics. There is no civil society—only a dominant bloc that claims to speak in the name of civil society. This dominant bloc asserts its power in crises where forces from above and below challenge its hegemony.

Instructions / Tips

1. Oral exams are 10 minutes long. 

2. You are allowed to bring 8 3x5 index cards. 

3. You may answer in English, Filipino or Taglish.

4. Read the thesis statements, outline the main arguments and proceed to explain these arguments. Connect thesis statements to the broad themes. Don't simply restate the thesis statements. 

5. Concretize arguments by using examples.