The Limitations on Democratization in Thailand through the Lens of the 2006 Military Coup

Aaron Stern

《Taiwan Journal of Democracy》 3卷1期 (2007/07) Pp. 127-141

https://doi.org/10.29654/TJD.200707.0006

並列摘要

This essay analyzes the military coup that occurred in Thailand on September 19, 2006. It considers what led to this event in a country many considered as having made substantial progress in consolidating its democracy. The main argument focuses on the lack of a mass political movement or group that is well-organized, well-financed, and motivated enough to mount a successful, sustained challenge to the key power holders in Thailand: high-level government politicians, the Thai owners or major Thai shareholders of large domestic corporations, and high-ranking military leaders. The lack of a strong and varied interest group structure in Thailand is a critical fissure in the country's political system. Interest group weaknesses have four characteristics: (1) the imbalance of power between the state and interest groups remains highly skewed toward the government; (2) much of the interest group community lacks enough autonomy from the state to effectively promote political reforms; (3) interest groups are fragmented in ways that create major obstacles to forming national coalitions or political parties that support democratization; and (4) the proclivities of Thai history favor a strong monarchy and there is no colonial legacy. These weaknesses contribute substantially to the tenuousness of Thai democracy and leave the political system open to dominance by such powerful players.

參考文獻

World Development Indicators

Aaron M. Stern(2006).Institutional Change in Legislatures: Thailand`s House of Representatives, 1979-2002.University of Michigan.

Amara Pongsapich,Nitaya Kataleeradabhan(1997).Thailand Nonprofit Sector and Social Development.Bangkok:Chulalongkorn University Institute of Social Research.

Anek Laothamatas(1992).Business Associations and the New Political Economy of Thailand: From Bureaucratic Polity to Liberal Corporatism.Boulder, CO:Westview Press.

Background Note: Thailand