Cracks under Pressure

Abstract

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s administration shows glimpses of political polarization where public discourse often frames citizens into "pro-" and "anti-" Marcos camps. By studying Generation Z political participation in the Marcos support base of Ilocos, popularly called the Solid North, I contribute to the sparse literature on polarization and the Solid North in the Philippines. I discuss political polarization manifesting in the lived experiences of young people of different political leanings based on sixteen in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions. I then present a spectrum of ways they navigate polarization, including the benefits, costs, and implications of these navigational strategies. Show more