Roots of Dependency: Political and Economic Revolution in 19th Century Philippines

by Jonathan Fast, Jim Richardson

Roots of Dependency presents an original overview of the dramatic changes which flowed from the Philippines' entry into world trade and the consequent ascendancy of cash crop agriculture in the insular economy. In the early chapters Fast and Richardson describe how, because of Spain's relative weakness, the main stimulants of this economic transformation were the markets and commercial agents — merchants, shippers and bankers — of Britain and United States.

The second section of Roots of Dependency analyzes the political tensions that these developments created, tensions which culminated in the 1896 revolution.. Who were the real heroes of the revolution? Fast and Richardson maintain that the common people, unsung, unremembered and cruelly betrayed, emerged as the true defenders of national honor.

Genres: History

146 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Karlo Mikhail · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important intervention on the history of colonialism and anti-colonial revolution in the Philippines.

[Ivan Labayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://chopsueyngarod.wordpress.com/...

The brief biography Jonathan Fast and Jim Richardson sketched in Roots of Dependency is enough to show how far Bonifacio was from the image of the romanticized poor fed to me in my basic education. Bonifacio’s mother was a Spanish mestiza, and his father was once a teniente mayor—a position requiring a certain level of skill and education. Bonifacio was able to attend elementary school and later on use his calligraphy skills to secure employment in foreign commercial firms. His eventual marriage to Gregoria de Jesus, daughter of a gobernadorcillo from Caloocan, and herself from a propertied family, also belies Bonifacio’s supposed lowliness. Finally, Bonifacio was a founding member of La Liga Filipina, an organization that Agoncillo himself described as “‘personif[ying] the middle class’ to whom ‘it was inconceivable that the unlettered masses should be given the privileges of their respectable group” (Fast and Richardson 68-9). Again, the crucial divergence needs highlighting: whereas Bonifacio and Rizal were both part of La Liga, it was only Bonifacio who would join—and even lead—the Katipunan.

[KT · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent study of political and economic conditions in 19th Century Philippines under Spanish colonisation and ultimately the Philippine Revolution

I found the analysis of the Philippines' incorporation into the world market as a result of other imperial forces interesting as the British Empire became the de facto economic force in the country despite de jure Spanish rule as it came to dominate trade

The authors' discussion on the liberal nationalism of the Katipunan, who were influenced by their European Enlightenment education, and its bourgeois character were also particularly good, as well as highlighting the low opinion held by Rizal and other ilustrados of the Katipunan and armed struggle from below, instead arguing that reforms should came from above i.e. the educated elite

Highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of the Philippines and how Spanish colonisation laid the roots of modern day Philippine dependency and its national bourgeois elite

[Tisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly one of the best accounts of Philippine history I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Shame I don't have access to the full copy, aside from the chapters our professor asked us to read.