Christopher Ryan Maboloc’s Radical Democracy in the Time of Duterte examines Rodrigo Duterte’s rise through the historical, political, philosophical, and cultural experiences of Mindanao. Rather than treating Duterte as a pro- or anti-democratic figure, Maboloc interprets his ascent as a radical challenge to an elite-centered, Manila-centric political order. Drawing from Chantal Mouffe’s agonistic conception of radical democracy, the book emphasizes contestation, resistance, power, exclusion, and the voice of marginalized communities. It argues that Duterte’s popularity cannot be understood apart from colonial legacies, regional inequality, oligarchic politics, and Mindanao’s exclusion. The book invites readers to reconsider Philippine democracy from its margins.
Christopher Ryan Maboloc’s The Politics of Peace and the Mindanao Problem: Tracing the Roots of a Historical Injustice examines Mindanao’s enduring conflict through the lenses of political theory, applied ethics, and the politics of difference. It argues that the Mindanao problem cannot be reduced to religious conflict but must be understood through historical and structural injustice, colonial legacies, political exclusion, poverty, and marginalization. Drawing particularly from Iris Marion Young and Thomas Pogge, Maboloc examines how institutions and power structures perpetuate deprivation among Bangsamoro and Indigenous communities. The book proposes holistic peace grounded in justice, inclusion, ethical governance, reconciliation, and meaningful self-determination.
Christopher Ryan Maboloc’s The Question of Justice in Contemporary Liberal Theory is a comprehensive examination of justice, liberty, equality, and democracy in contemporary political philosophy. Centered on John Rawls, the book argues that Rawlsian justice remains relevant to the political and social crises of our time, particularly inequality, poverty, discrimination, global injustice, technology, disability, and conflict. Maboloc engages critically with thinkers including Robert Nozick, Michael Sandel, Iris Marion Young, Will Kymlicka, Amartya Sen, Martha Nussbaum, and Thomas Pogge. Ultimately, the book connects liberal theory with concrete realities, emphasizing human dignity, fair opportunity, institutional justice, and the moral responsibility to create a more democratic and equitable world.
The Davao School of Radical Democracy: Southern Voices Reimagining Philippine Politics, edited by Christopher Ryan Maboloc and Mansoor Limba, is an academic essay collection that offers an alternative to Manila-centric, liberal narratives of Philippine politics. Grounded in political philosophy and southern experience, scholars from Mindanao and Visayas examine power, structural injustice, and historical marginalization through radical democratic theory and agonism. By analyzing the rise of Rodrigo Duterte, anti-elite movements, and regional agendas, the volume demonstrates that political life in the Global South is defined by conflict, identity, and context rather than abstract liberal consensus.
Ethics in Contemporary Philippine Society (Volume 2), edited by Christopher Ryan Maboloc, expands practical ethics to address pressing contemporary challenges, including public health, pandemic ethics, environmental sustainability, peace studies, and global justice. Featuring essays by Visayan, Mindanaoan, and international scholars, the volume grounds moral theories within distinct local and regional contexts. By bridging concepts like glocalisation and the Anthropocene with real-world issues, the collection challenges Manila-centric frameworks. Ultimately, it equips students and scholars with critical tools to navigate complex ethical landscapes and drive positive social change in the Philippines.