This book presents an updated view of the Philippines, focusing on thematic issues rather than a description region by region. Topics include typhoons, population growth, economic difficulties, agrarian reform, migration as an economic strategy, the growth of Manila, the Muslim question in Mindanao, the South China Sea tensions with China and the challenges of risk, vulnerability and sustainable development.

Autorentext

Yves Boquet was trained as a history and geography teacher in France and worked for 17 years in the Washington DC area before coming back to France as an assistant professor at Université de Picardie in Amiens and then full professor at Université de Bourgogne. He has also held temporary guest positions at University of Maryland-College Park, University of Louisville, University of the Philippines and Lyceum of the Philippines University. Professor Boquet is currently the Secretary General of the Association of French Geographers and Secreatary of the IGU commission on Geography of Transportation. His topics of interest are transportation and large megalopolises) and countries of research the United States, then the Philippines and China.  

Inhalt
PART 1 Land, history and people.- Chapter 1 7107 islands.- Chapter 2 A tropical archipelago.- Chapter 3 The Spanish creation of the Philippines: the birth of a nation.- Chapter 4 From US colony to independent country: the construction of a State.- Chapter 5 100 million Filipinos.- Chapter 6 The diversity of the Philippine population.- Chapter 7 Emerging tiger ? The paradoxes of the Philippine economy.- Chapter 8 Farm productions and rural landscapes.- Chapter 9 The Philippine agriculture : weaknesses and controversies.- Chapter 10 The use and abuse of sea resources.- Chapter 11 Industry vs. Services.- Chapter 12 Global Pinoys: the archipelago of migration.- PART 3 Regional organization and spatial planning.- Chapter 13 The spatial structure of the Philippines: urbanization and regional inequalities.- Chapter 14 Transportation in the Philippines.- Chapter 15 The growth of Greater Manila.- Chapter 16 Managing Metro Manila.- Chapter 17 Regional development policies in the Philippines.- PART 4 Challenges for  the Philippines.- Chapter 18 Towards a Bangsamoro in Mindanao ?.- Chapter 19 South China Sea or West Philippine Sea ?.- Chapter 20 It's more fun in the Philippines ? The challenges of tourism in the Philippines.- Chapter 21 Environmental challenges in the Philippines.- Conclusion: Towards sustainable development in the Philippines?