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The Government of Thailand
Term Paper ID:27435
Essay Subject:
Explores the development of the Thai governmental structure through looking at historical background & modern developments. Concludes with a brief discussion of contemporary politics.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Explores the development of the Thai governmental structure through looking at historical background & modern developments. Concludes with a brief discussion of contemporary politics.
Paper Introduction:
The Government of Thailand
Introduction
The course of modernization, and democracy, in Thailand has not run smoothly. At this point, Thailand is operating under its 15th constitution, the latest of which was promulgated in 1991 by the National Peacekeeping Council of the coup regime. That constitution provided for a bicameral legislature and a constitutional monarchy, modeled on the system used in Great Britain. There are, however, many differences, both in structure and operation. The intention in this paper is to explore the development of the Thai governmental structure through looking at historical background and modern developments, followed by a brief discussion of contemporary politics.
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Vatikiotis, M. Mission impossible. These laws were based on the Indian Laws of Manu,although with some variations, and they remained the centerpoint of Thailaw until the modern era (LePoer, 1989). The problems of the regime were so severe that support for thegovernment dropped from the initial 233 seats to 169 seats by January of1996. It startedout as a party of the status quo, with considerable corruption involved,including several links to the drug trade. The kingis well-known for his public works record, and for his contribution to theresolution of the periodic crises of Thai politics. Theprime minister was Prem Tinsulanonda, who had come into power not throughelection but through consensus on the part of political leaders. Taylor, D. Following that, theMon people established the independent kingdom of Dvaravati, separate fromthe Funan Empire. Balancing act. Kulick and Wilson (1992) noted that the monarch in Thailand actuallyprovides an important balancing function. Yet, the country hasremained committed to what it believes is ultimately a democratic course ofaction. Far Eastern EconomicReview, 159(5 ), 32. As Kulick and Wilson put it, the army has the guns, the governmenthas the resources, but the monarchy only has popular goodwill to rely upon,making its position somewhat precarious.Contemporary Politics Despite the democratic structure of the Thai government, the actualworkings of Thai political life are dominated by money, bribery, andintimidation. He was the earliest monarch to recognize the advantagesavailable from the West, he travelled widely, developed strongrelationships with the West, and did a great deal to modernize Siam, asThailand was then called (Taylor, 1997). The King, whohas ruled since 1946, is revered as an important link with the past, aswell as a strong moral and symbolic leader. What resulted was a civilization thatwas quite syncretic and remarkably open to outside influences, includingthe influence of the West and the continued influence of the Chinese(Girling, 1981). Thailand. For example, after the1991 coup, his actions led to a reconciliation of the two groups involved,and he later was able to choose the Premier. Vatikiotis, M. The firstconstitution was established after a coup, and this seems to have becomethe course of change within the country ever since. AsVatikiotis and Fairclough (1996) noted, over $1 billion was spent duringthe election process, primarily on bribing people to vote in a particularway, but also on intimidation, murder, and various forms of ballot-rigging. Vatikiotis (1996d) noted thatthe government continued to operate with powers provided it under the Lawfor Preventing Communist Activity. Charles' Siamese twin. Both had considerable corruption within party ranks and both wereinclined to ensure their power by intimidation and anti-democratictechniques, rather than solid performance. Peace in his time. The object at hand. Far Eastern Economic Review, 159(29), 23-25. The latest of the constitutions is the 1991constitution which was enacted on December 9, 1991 by the national Peace-keeping Council of the latest coup group. Even when the country has seemed to be relativelystable, this has proved to be short-lived. This Law granted the government thepower to detain individuals without trial or filing of charges for up toseven months, allows arrests without warrant, and is vague enough to beused against any opposition groups or individuals, and is so used. That constitution provided for abicameral legislature and a constitutional monarchy, modeled on the systemused in Great Britain. The monarchy, too, is less than a source of inspiration to the Thaipeople, being mired in scandals of its own similar to those in the monarchyin Great Britain (Luscombe, 1996). The ThaiNew Aspiration Party won the election, making its leader ChavalitYongchaiyud the new prime minister, but it won the election corruptly. Yet, there are limits to hispower. This, in its turn, became part of the Khmer Empireduring the 11th century (Girling, 1981). (1996). He has no political powerunder the constitution, nor has he had, but he is important to the countryas a leader during times of crisis. As it now stands, elections create the lower house of the legislature,comprising 36 members, while the upper house of 27 senators is appointedby the prime minister. Girling (1981) noted that Siam rapidly, and early, adopted manyof the economic, political, and social ideas of European countries and thisallowed them to maintain themselves against the external colonialpressures. Thailand's turn. (1996). Although the structure is in place foreffective government, the people who actually wield the power in Thailandhave not been effective leaders in any respect during the 199 s to date. The upper and lower houses can vote on no-confidence motionswhich lead to a change of government and new prime minister. Essentially, they were a minority population from southwest Chinawhich continued to move southward into the Khmer Empire. Coups are institutedagainst the regime in power, a new, interim constitution is established,and finally new, permanent constitutions are put in force, only to bereplaced in the next coup. Neither regime seemed likely to change the course of Thai politics,however. Itseemed as though the Constitution of 1978 was working well and that boththe leaders and the Thai people were committed to making thisdemocracy/monarchy succeed. The intention in this paper is to explore thedevelopment of the Thai governmental structure through looking athistorical background and modern developments, followed by a briefdiscussion of contemporary politics.Historical Background There have been a number of empires, and civilizations in the Thairegion beginning with the Funan Empire which flourished from approximatelythe first to sixth centuries A.D. It was early characterized by a god-kingform of rule, but later evolved into a more bureaucratic format. Vatikiotis, M. (1995). Luscombe, B. Far Eastern EconomicReview, 159(48), 22. This Empire was fundamentally Indian andextended far beyond the territory of modern Thailand. Yet, thisportrayal of King Mongkut, not too surprisingly, was inaccurate and biased,relying on old myths of the inscrutable and exotic East. Vatikiotis, M. It was unable to put togetheran effective ruling group, and lost coalition support rapidly, leading to achallenge toward the end of 1996. Vatikiotis (1996a) noted that even though there is a Pollwatch groupin Thailand which is charged with observing the election process and makingsure that the voting is fair, but that it is largely ineffective. Legal relic: Government still wields anti-communist law. These portrayed the King of Siamas desiring to modernize his country, but as being fundamentally limited bytradition and his need to be treated as an autocratic leader. (1996a). It did have to secede considerable landduring various negotiation processes, but did manage to maintain itsautonomy. The Thai monarchy dominated Thai political life from the mid-14thcentury through the 18th century. The most recent elections are an example of that. This wasnot to prove to be the case, however, although corruption certainly didplay a major role in the changeover. King Mongkut wasa forerunner of modern Thailand and much more sophisticated than theportrayal. Much of the early modernization project was carried out by KingChulalongkorn, son of King Mongkut.Modern Developments One of the most visible portrayals of Thailand, and its rulers, wasthe through Hollywood's production of Anna and the King of Siam, followedby the musical version, The King and I. Ithaca, NY: Cornell UniversityPress. Washington, D.C.:U.S. At this point, Thailand is operating under its 15thconstitution, the latest of which was promulgated in 1991 by the NationalPeacekeeping Council of the coup regime. (1996c). Vatikiotis, M. (1996d). Vatikiotis (1996c) noted that the opposition did not immediatelyrespond to the weakness of Chart Thai, however, because most expected ChartThai to gain new coalition partners and maintain its position. The Constitution of 1978 provided for a British-style cabinet form ofgovernment, with King Bhumibol Adulyadej the constitutional monarch. Prime ministers do not have to be members of thenational assembly and cabinet members do not have to be elected members ofthe assembly. Far Eastern Economic Review, 159(4), 23. The Thai monarchy, on the other hand, has been relatively stable.Despite all the coups, and the various democratic elections, the monarchyremains entrenched in Thailand and in good popular repute. (1992). This party was a conservative group that developed acoalition, which included the Nam Thai, New Aspiration, Palang Dharma,Prachakorn Thai, Social Action, and Muanchon parties, with a total of 233out of 391 seats in the parliament (Vatikiotis and Fairclough, 1995).Chart Thai, however, had great difficulties during its tenure. The Thai New Aspiration Party replaced a government led by the ChartThai Party. Siam came into early contact with European countries, but was notactually colonized by any of them. The Thai people themselves did not enter Thailand until after thistime. Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyud established linkswith the People's Liberation Army of China in his effort to improveeconomic and political relationships for Thailand in the region(Vatikiotis, 1996b). The first constitution under which it operated waspromulgated in 1932, devising a system of constitutional monarchy that hasbeen under a constant process of revision ever since. Coupswere attempted against Prem in both 1981 1985, and while these failed theydid alter the course of the government (LePoer, 1989).Current Structure Nonetheless, the course of Thai democracy remained wedded to the coupand constitutional change. Smithsonian, 28(1), 22-24. For example, LePoer (1989)noted in her country study of Thailand that the stability of the systemduring the 198 s might be the political watershed in Thai history. (1989). FarEastern Economic Review, 159(48), 16-19. Time, 148(2), 67. The Thaimonarch was the head of a number of tribal constituencies, and there weremany branches to the royal family, and other noble families involved in therule of the country. Tongue-tied: Opposition comes under fire forbeing too coy. And Wilson, D. Theauthors indicated that one of the major advantages that the king has, evenwithout absolute power, is incredible wealth, which enables the king tomaintain his position in the country and in the political arena. (1996b). And Fairclough, G. Essentially coups have been the most commonform of changing government, amending the constitution, and dealing withvariable political forces within the country. FarEastern Economic Review, 158(28), 16-19. It is a stabilizing influence,and when the monarch has a strong character, as the current one does, themonarchy has an impact on the political make-up of the country. The Ayuthaya dynasty first codified its rules and customs under KingRamadhipati I (the current king is Rama VIII, although there have been ninekings in the line). Its independent status gives it somecredibility, but no real clout. They overcamethese Khmers (or Cambodians during the 14th century, establishing a Thaikingdom of Ayuthaya in 135 (Girling, 1981). Yet the path of democracy in Thailand has certainly been erratic, withmany fits and starts. The civilization that they created was an amalgamation of influences,including the political organization of the Khmers, the juridical andBuddhist orientation of the Mons and Burmans, and the customs of the tribalconquerors and indigenous peoples. Vatikiotis, M. NY: Macmillan. The Government of ThailandIntroduction The course of modernization, and democracy, in Thailand has not runsmoothly. Government Printing Office. The New Aspiration Party made a strong break with Chart Thai andattempted to create a new surge in Thailand's status in the Southeast Asianregion by moving into Southeast Asian diplomacy, with the support ofChinese authorities. (1981). There are, however, many differences, both instructure and operation. And Fairclough, G. References Girling, J.L.S. Kulick, E. Toothless watchdog. It isinadequately funded and staffed, without power, and has not gained theconfidence of the voters themselves. LePoer, B.L. Thailand actually chose a democratic path much earlier than manydeveloping nations. (1997). Thailand - A country study. It made some important changesin the constitution and in the arrangement of government agencies andhierarchies.
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