The Philippines in Crisis - by W Thompson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The eruption of Mt. Pinatuba represented more than the smothering of America's Clark Air Force Base and many of President Corazon Aquino's development plans. It also served as a metaphor both for the collapse of Philippine-American base negotiations, presaging an end to nearly a century of strategic relations, and for Aquino's unsuccessful attempt to undo the colossal damage of the Marcos era and construct coherent development programs. This book explores the connections between two central functions of third world governments - development and security - in an analysis of Aquino's six crisis-filled years.

From the Back Cover

The eruption of Mt. Pinatuba represented more than the smothering of America's Clark Air Force Base and many of President Corazon Aquino's development plans. It also served as a metaphor both for the collapse of Philippine-American base negotiations, presaging an end to nearly a century of strategic relations, and for Aquino's unsuccessful attempt to undo the colossal damage of the Marcos era and construct coherent development programs. The story of the Aquino era is one of failing efforts to use the vast economic aid which poured into the country and of more successful efforts to put a lid on the communist insurgency in four-fifths of the nation's provinces. The reason for the success was only too obvious: the unity of the security struggle went unmatched in the economic struggle, where it was every person for himself or herself. Even the presidential family had its fingers in the economic pie. This book explores the connections between these two central functions of third world governments--development and security--in an analysis of Aquino's six crisis-filled years.