Protection at the Margins is a ground-breaking account of how and why religious actors protect local communities from state-driven populist violence. Focusing on Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's notorious 'Drug War,' the book provides an intricate view of how religion, populism, and political violence interact on the ground. Drawing on original surveys of Catholic clergy, experiments with members of the Philippine National Police, spatial data on thousands of drug killings, and dozens of field interviews in these neighborhoods, the book shows how Catholic elites used moral commitment and institutional capacity to influence street-level bureaucrats with discretion over violence, work with secular partners, and challenge populist dehumanization. It also highlights obstacles to protection, in the Philippines as well as Brazil and the United States. Amidst rising global concern about populism and violence, Protection at the Margins generates new insights into how religious actors shielded communities in one of the world's largest mega-cities.

‘In this terrific and humane book, Buckley and Brooke demonstrate how committed religious actors operating through locally effective institutions can protect people from state violence. Through careful theorization and impressive multi-pronged field research, the authors identify a set of mechanisms for how meso-level actors mitigate civilian abuse. The book has profound implications not only for the study of large-scale political violence outside armed conflict, but also for the study of civil society and the power of principled action in the face of dangerous politics.'

Scott Straus - University of California, Berkeley

‘Protection at the Margins tells an extraordinary story of courage and conviction in the face of populist violence. Drawing on years of fieldwork in the Philippines, Buckley and Brooke show how church leaders mobilized to protect their communities during Duterte's Drug War. Moving between the streets of Manila, the favelas of Brazil, and communities in the United States, they offer a striking reminder that defending democracy doesn't always start with mass movements or sweeping reforms, but with everyday acts of courage and solidarity at the margins.'

Cesi Cruz - University of Michigan

‘As democracy faces unprecedented threats worldwide, this groundbreaking study reveals how Philippine Catholic clergy protected vulnerable communities during President Rodrigo Duterte's brutal drug war. While examining one of democracy's darkest chapters, this book demonstrates how religious communities can serve as vital reservoirs of democratic resilience-offering both immediate sanctuary and pathways toward renewal. This is ultimately a hopeful book, offering an urgent roadmap for communities facing populist violence globally.'

Sheila S. Coronel - Columbia University

‘In this provocative analysis, Buckley and Brooke argue that religion can counter state violence, using both moral authority and religious networks to protect vulnerable populations and democratic resilience. A stimulating and compelling argument.'

Anna Grzymala-Busse - Stanford University