On Monday the Philippines holds what are seen as the most hotly contested elections in its history. The country is a key regional ally for the United States as part of its ‘Pivot to Asia’ strategy, but it is also a nation of extreme of wealth and poverty that has faced a long-standing Islamist insurgency. The leading candidates include the son of ex-dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and the front-runner for the presidency, Rodrigo Duterte, has drawn widespread comparisons to Donald Trump for his populist style and unscripted remarks.

The Philippines has experienced a period of sustained growth over the past few years, but there are fears that this could be undermined by politicians who reject the strategies that have led to that success. Owen Bennett Jones and his expert guests discuss the state of democracy in the Philippines, its economic prospects and its future as a regional power.

(Ferdinand Marcos Jr, a vice-presidential candidate and son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, campaigns in Manila. Photo credit: Getty Images)