In political context, compromise is purely decisive; however it gives an assurance that none of the participating sides has enough strength to pursue its own personal goals resolutely and completely.

In our efforts to secure democracy in the Philippines, we should therefore learn the basic game of interplay between consensus and conflicts. There should be as much conflict as necessary in order to guarantee room for expression and to secure as many important parts of one’s interests and values as possible in the long run. But there should be as much consensus as necessary in order to prevent conflicts from alienating the consequential of living together in the society.

It is always dangerous to establish the interest of majority completely over the minority or to practice strict majority decision without having taken the minority decision into consideration for the table might turn again and one possibly loses everything which was won today as this dominated minority comes into number and soon become the majority.

Decisions which are taken by the majority alone, overlapping and disregarding the interests of other societal groups would only end up unstable and fragmented, but decision-making which welcomed conflicts and differences however filtered by consensus and compromises will provide possible long-term result and will even stabilize democracy.

It is a political strategy and an art of democracy to allow a unity of common actions emerging from a multitude of interests and values, which can be accepted by everyone as legitimate. Only then can they be dealt with clearly, openly and fairly and everyone will be taken into consideration in the whole decision-making process so that alienation and animosity can be avoided.

The principle of majority rule, though taken most of the time can be a menace of democracy if applied strictly for it might result to resistance and disintegration of the existing order if it at some points disregards consensus and compromises and does not incorporate the interests of minorities.

In conclusion, “compromise” is an effective political strategy in stabilizing democracy for it involves a process of negotiations which makes all sides aware that the complete achievement of its values and interests is not possible or clever.