The ‘democracy’ brought about by people power is not working for the benefit of the majority of poor Filipinos. It has simply returned to power the clans and warlords that once dominated pre–martial-law politics. …

To understand the rise and fall of the Estrada presidency, it is not enough to focus on the ‘personalistic’ leadership style for which Estrada was notorious. We must also look at the nature of coalition politics itself and how it will affect governing in the Philippines in the new century.