City, Environment, and Transnationalism in the Philippines: Reconceptualizing “the Social” from the Global South

Seki's ethnography of uncertainty and precarity in the Philippines provides a case study of social protection without a robust welfare state. He explores how people at the margins of global capitalism create security and protection through mobilizing their sociality and networks. The social is experiencing a fundamental reconfiguration in the twenty-first century due to deepening insecurity, risk, and precariousness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 246 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Seki's ethnography of uncertainty and precarity experienced by people in urban, rural, and transnational communities in the Philippines serves as a compelling case study of social protection in the absence of a robust welfare state. He delves into various topics such as urban poverty, environmental degradation, and transnational migration, highlighting the diverse ways in which individuals navigate these challenges. Throughout these chapters, Seki intricately explores the modes of security and protection that people living at the margins of global capitalism establish through mobilizing their sociality and networks. He traces the evolving configuration of the social, a collective and interconnectedness that fosters a sense of security in life among individuals. The social, in this context, can be defined as an idea or institution that has enabled formal and impersonal solidarity, akin to the foundations of modern welfare states in the West during the mid-20th century. However, in the twenty-first century, the social is undergoing a fundamental reconfiguration as it confronts deepening insecurity, risk, and the precariousness of the post-Welfare State or post-Fordist regime.

In the Philippines, amidst contemporary insecurity and precariousness, what are the contours of the social emerging in an unlikely place? Seki's ethnography offers valuable insights for scholars of the Philippines, as well as anthropology and social policy in the Global South. It sheds light on the resilience and creativity of individuals facing adversity, and highlights the importance of community-based initiatives and social networks in providing support and security. The book also raises important questions about the role of the state, international organizations, and private sector in addressing social inequality and promoting social protection.

Overall, Seki's ethnography is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of social protection in the Global South, and the ways in which individuals and communities navigate uncertainty and precarity in the face of adversity.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032123837