Rodrigo Duterte’s unexpected rise as president of the Philippines has left many questioning the country’s democratic system. The leader, whose approval rate is 91%, has been labeled populist authoritarian. He is using military force to control areas in Mindanao while challenging core values such as human rights and the rule of law. What Is the Leadership Style of Rodrigo Duterte?
1. Autocratic
When people hear the term “autocratic leadership,” they often envision mega cult pastors. These types of figures claim their rules and guidelines come directly from God and have complete control over their followers – even leading them to believe they know everything.
Autocratic leaders typically adhere to a set of rules and procedures that enable their teams to meet deadlines. Furthermore, they train their people so that they are able to do their jobs at an exceptionally high standard by setting clear objectives and providing them with adequate training for performing specific tasks.
President Rodrigo Duterte is an example of this type of leader. He has used his executive authority to take control of cities like Marawi and hunt down all suspects involved in drug dealing. Furthermore, he prioritized using law enforcement and military forces rather than civilians when combatting crime and fighting drugs.
Police and military officers are known for their discipline and efficiency, which sets them apart from civilian counterparts. Furthermore, since Duterte took office, uniformed services personnel (such as customs and coastguard officers) have been paid double salaries and generals have been appointed to various government positions.
Politicians, policemen and soldiers have become accustomed to following the orders of their superiors. Additionally, many view their professional responsibilities as having greater significance than personal lives.
Nancy Bermeo’s book The Politics of Authoritarianism highlights that this leadership style may not always be effective or fair; in fact, it can cause much harm.
Autocratic leadership can be effective if your followers believe in and trust you as the leader. Unfortunately, this style of leadership may not be appropriate for those without a large following or who have divergent opinions about what should be done.
One of the primary reasons many leaders struggle to transition from mayor or local political position to presidency is because running a nation presents different challenges than managing a city or town, and it takes more effort and time to learn how to lead one.
2. Populist
Duterte was a populist in that he appealed to ordinary people, not just the elite. To make his point, Duterte employed various social measures such as his ability to speak to all social classes, charisma as an orator and machismo, and presence on social media platforms.
His success as president was built upon his popularity with the Filipino public. This popularity was the product of both external factors and also a psychological approach to politics.
He leveraged his status as a popular mayor of Davao City to his advantage, and this popularity combined with his skills as an orator and machismo helped him secure election victories in 2016.
However, simply viewing populist popularity as a reflection of socioeconomic conditions is not enough; that would ignore the deeper psychodynamics at play in such disorders.
Duterte’s populism allows him to capitalize on the fear and resentment that often accompany social unhappiness. This anger serves to give his political legitimacy and cultivate a powerful base of supporters.
Duterte has achieved remarkable success due to his deep belief in government’s capacity for solving social problems and improving society. As such, his influence continues to grow exponentially.
His leadership style is not autocratic, but he does impose his vision of the country and how to run it. This means he has his own rules and regulations which some may disagree with.
One example of Duterte’s brutality was his executions of drug dealers. Many were outraged by these killings, yet he managed to channel that anger into popular support.
Another example is his decision to double the salary for uniformed service personnel, such as police and army, in response to criticism that he wasn’t doing enough to address crime and violence issues.
He is an ardent supporter of the death penalty, believing it to be the only effective method for eliminating drug traffickers. This has made him a controversial figure in the Philippines.
3. Authoritarian
Duterte’s leadership style can be described as authoritarian. In this form of governance, a leader has the power to control their people through arbitrary decisions that serve either political or economic objectives. They may even have the authority to censor and silence any speech that conflicts with their agenda.
Duterte has achieved immense popularity in the Philippines with his controversial policies. He’s known for his tough stance against crime and drug abuse, as well as his use of force to enforce laws. Due to a large public backing base, he has been able to implement significant reforms across the country.
However, Duterte’s leadership style does have some negative aspects which must be taken into account. He has used his authority to discipline dissenting citizens and journalists; specifically jailing several political leaders and journalists who voiced their disagreements; these include senators Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes as well as journalist Maria Ressa.
Another detrimental aspect of Duterte’s leadership style is his use of violence to enforce his agenda. This has resulted in the deaths of many Filipinos and an increase in criminality – particularly among children – as well as conflict and controversy around Duterte’s war on drugs which some report has included death squads targeting suspected drug traffickers and their families.
These events and policies have drawn condemnation from human rights organisations, international bodies, and other politicians. They also created a climate of fear and uncertainty which poses risks to the country’s future.
Many citizens are uncertain of their social and political standing, with little understanding of their rights and responsibilities. This can lead to apathy and disengagement – detrimental for democratic societies in developing nations.
The current populist atmosphere can also be observed in how Filipinos engage online with one another. A variety of social media channels have become forums for debate and discussion, providing citizens with a platform to express their thoughts on various issues.
4. Undemocratic
No matter your role as a leader, manager or employee, developing a leadership style that promotes democratic principles such as equality, collaboration, idea sharing and diversity will help your organization thrive. Create a company mission statement that echoes these values and communicate it throughout the organization. Encourage managers to involve employees in decision-making processes by giving them opportunities to express their thoughts and opinions. Furthermore, incentives and rewards for teamwork and collaboration can further foster this style within your organization.
President Duterte’s “War on Drugs” is an example of an undemocratic, autocratic leadership style. This war has resulted in more murders than ever before, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and experts alike.
Many consider this campaign not only a waste of human lives, but also detrimental to the Philippines’ economy. As a result, there has been an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty throughout the country which has fuelled violent crime rates. Human rights organizations have voiced their opposition to the Philippine government’s actions, calling for an international investigation into their conduct.
President Duterte has pledged to put an end to violence and has requested assistance from the United Nations in combatting drug problems. Unfortunately, it remains uncertain if his efforts will be successful.
Regarding the policeing of this war, several issues have arisen, such as excessive force and violations of due process. The lawlessness of the drug war has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands people in the Philippines.
Another issue is a lack of transparency and accountability from government. This is because they rarely release information about their criminal activities or share decisions with the public, making it difficult for citizens to hold them accountable.
Concerns have also been expressed over the state of press and media in the Philippines. This has been attributed to government’s repressive policies, which have been accused of being behind numerous attacks against journalists and news websites.
More leaders stories.
