The Politics of Peace and the Mindanao Problem: A Review

Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc’s book, "The Politics of Peace and the Mindanao Problem," is a philosophical and socio-political critique that challenges the traditional "Manila-centric" understanding of the conflict in Southern Philippines. Following the thought of Patricio Abinales, he argues that labeling Mindanao as a land of conflict is a form of bias. The book is published in 2025 by Dr. Mansoor Limba of Elzystyle Publishing. 

Rather than viewing the "Mindanao Problem" as a simple religious or ethnic clash, Maboloc reframed it as a deep-seated issue of structural injustice. The author travelled to Zamboanga City, Cotabato City, Lake Sebu, and Marawi City to conduct his study, talking to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) officials, Peace negotiators and advocates, local leaders, academics, and Indigenous Peoples (IP). The research was funded by Ateneo de Davao University.

​Maboloc utilizes the theories of political philosopher Iris Marion Young, specifically her concepts of the "Politics of Difference" and the "Social Connection Model of Responsibility." He argues that peace cannot be achieved through mere ceasefire agreements; it requires addressing the underlying structures that marginalize the Bangsamoro and the Lumad. Muslim resentment due to historical grievances, he writes, has forced the likes of Nur Misusri to seek self-determination.

​Maboloc argues that universal norms and standard liberal democratic approaches often fail in Mindanao because they treat everyone the same, ignoring the unique historical and cultural identity of the Moro people. He advocates for a system that recognizes "difference" as a basis for justice. Maboloc is critical of what he calls elite democracy, citing it for the institutional failures in the Philippines, noting that the EDSA People Power has not delivered the promise of change.

​The book highlights how poverty and violence in Mindanao are products of institutional "cycles of disadvantage." This includes the historical "Othering" of Muslims and Indigenous peoples by the Philippine state. For Maboloc, the prejudice against Muslim Filipinos has undermined their welfare and denied them of a decent life, citing that the Bangsamoro is the poorest region in the country and lowest in terms of development index scores.

He examines how local "political dynasties" and "bosses" in Mindanao sometimes perpetuate conflict to maintain their grip on power, creating a "predatory" environment that hinders genuine peace. For Maboloc, the elite version of politics in the Bangsamoro has stifled its economic progress as local families control and largely benefit from the underground economy in the region, a situation perpetuated by a patronage system of politics that existed since the commonwealth government.

​The book situates the rise of Mindanaoan leaders (specifically during the Duterte era) as a radical attempt to shift the national consciousness toward the periphery. Maboloc explores whether this political shift actually addressed the root causes of the conflict or simply reshuffled the power players. Duterte's political will, Maboloc argues, has made the signing of the Peace Agreement possible after it was scuttled due to the Mamasapano incident.

For Maboloc, the "Mindanao Problem" is due to historical injustices. He mentions the great migration that branded Mindanao the land of promise, which he says has actually displaced the Lumads and enabled the Christian majority to dominate the many areas of the island. In fact, citing Karl Gaspar, Christianity acted as a chauvinistic religion that silenced the belief systems of the Lumads (a term for Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao).

​Maboloc suggests that for Mindanao to achieve lasting peace, there must be a "radicalization" of democracy—one that empowers the grassroots and dismantles the shadow economies that fund violence. This requires, according to him, addressing the structural issues. This means going beyond a state-centric resource redistribution framework. The real threat to peace, he argues, is predatory politics. There is fear, for instance, that local political dynasties will take control of the Bangsamoro region.

​In Maboloc’s view, the problem is rooted in the hegemonic structural relationship between the center (Imperial Manila) and the periphery (Mindanao). He argues that the Philippine state has historically acted as a colonial power, extracting resources from poor regions while neglecting and failing to recognize the rights of the people. For Maboloc, it is a question of a power dynamics. Mindanao is a victim of unjust structures bred by Manila's imperialism.