Aries A. Arugay

Aries A. Arugay is Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he has been a regular faculty member since 2004. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in comparative politics, international relations, research methods, and political theory. Additionally, he serves as a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, coordinating its Philippine Studies Programme.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science, Georgia State University (2014)
• Master of Arts in Political Science, University of the Philippines-Diliman (2004)
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (cum laude), University of the Philippines-Diliman (2000)

Research Focus: Aries specializes in comparative democratization processes, civil-military relations, Indo-Pacific international relations, contentious politics, and the impact of social media on governance. His work critically examines democratic erosion, security sector reform, and disinformation dynamics in Southeast Asia, with a regional emphasis on Philippine politics and foreign policy.

Publication Trends: His recent research (2019-2024) predominantly analyzes democratic backsliding, populist governance, and geopolitical shifts in the Philippines under the Duterte and Marcos administrations. Key themes include civil society repression, disinformation in elections, China-Philippines relations, and security sector militarization. Methodologically, his work blends comparative politics with international relations theory.

Honors and Awards:

• UP Scientist III (2022-2024) & II (2019-2021)
• Sheth International Alumni Award for Exceptional Achievement (2019)
• Outstanding Young Scientist in Political Science (2020)
• One UP Professorial Chair (2016-present)
• UP Centennial Professorial Chair (2015-2018, 2020-2022)
• Fulbright Fellowship (PhD studies)
• ASEAN@50 Fellowship (New Zealand, 2018)

Professional Engagements: As Editor-in-Chief of Asian Politics & Policy and editorial board member for seven international journals, he shapes academic discourse on governance and security. He is a Senior Fellow of the Philippine Public Safety College, Fellow at Social Weather Stations, and member of the National Research Council of Philippines. He actively participates in track-two diplomacy through the Foundation for the National Interest, focusing on regional security and ASEAN integration.