While the KPI Thai Politics Up-date No. 4 (February 6, 2008) dealt with the referen-dum processes in Chachoengsao province, this paper opens with an analysis of na-tional-level aspects of the referendum. It is found that it was neither... more
While the KPI Thai Politics Up-date No. 4 (February 6, 2008) dealt with the referen-dum processes in Chachoengsao province, this paper opens with an analysis of na-tional-level aspects of the referendum. It is found that it was neither free nor fair, mainly because this was not an exercise in direct democracy but rather part of the military coup-plotters’ attempt to eradicate Thaksin and his Thai Rak Thai party from the political landscape. Accordingly, the legal framework of the referendum was de-signed to benefit the drafters of the constitution, while the public space for voicing deviating opinions, especially by TRT politicians, was severly restricted. At the same time, coup-connected pro-constitution forces had ample space to push for the accep-tance of the draft.
The second part of the paper analyzes issues concerning the election of De-cember 23, 2007. First, changes introduced to the election system by the new constitu-tion are explained. This mainly concerns the return from single-member constituen-cies to the pre-1997 system of multi-member constituencies, but also the introduction of eight zones for proportional voting, and the return of vote counting from central counting stations in the constituencies to the polling stations. The second section deals with the Election Commission’s restrictions placed on electioneering as well as its role in excluding former TRT executives from the campaign of the People’s Power party. Finally, the election result is analyzed from a number of perspectives.
Chiang Mai is a part of the process of renewing of the Modern Siam Regime. This paper has explored the architecture in Chiang Mai which has been changed by social and political factors in the late of 19th century Western Colonialism... more
Chiang Mai is a part of the process of renewing of the Modern Siam Regime. This paper has explored the architecture in Chiang Mai which has been changed by social and political factors in the late of 19th century Western Colonialism penetrated into the region. However, the leader of Chiang Mai has chosen Siamese government’s side because of political factors. It’s not about the ethnic’s reason at all. Chiang Mai and Bangkok have different languages, cultures and also the life styles. Therefore, the conceptual of Hegemony, which has been used to study the occurrence of the Government’s architecture in Chiang Mai, was determined by Siamese government policy. Is it an impact on life styles, cultures and social spaces through a part of external factors and internal factors As a result, an interpretation of the architecture is the beginning to understand the source of the complexity in Chiang Mai’s architecture because of these things are a reflection between Chiang Mai and Siamese Government which they focused on social and politic part.
เอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้เป็นภูมิภาคที่ทหารมีบทบาททางการเมืองมาเป็นเวลานาน ซึ่งโดยทั่วไปแล้วการที่ทหารมีบทบาททางการเมืองในลักษณะต่างๆ มักส่งผลกระทบต่อพัฒนาการของระบอบการปกครอง รวมถึงความเป็นประชาธิปไตยและไม่เป็นประชาธิปไตยของประเทศนั้นๆ... more
เอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้เป็นภูมิภาคที่ทหารมีบทบาททางการเมืองมาเป็นเวลานาน ซึ่งโดยทั่วไปแล้วการที่ทหารมีบทบาททางการเมืองในลักษณะต่างๆ มักส่งผลกระทบต่อพัฒนาการของระบอบการปกครอง รวมถึงความเป็นประชาธิปไตยและไม่เป็นประชาธิปไตยของประเทศนั้นๆ อย่างมาก บทความนี้ต้องการทบทวนการนำแนวคิดที่เรียกว่า “การควบคุมทหารโดยพลเรือน” (Civilian control of the military) มาประยุกต์ใช้ในการศึกษาบทบาทของทหารในเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ บทความนี้นำเสนอว่า การที่ทหารแสดงบทบาททางการเมืองนั้นไม่ได้หมายความว่าประเทศแห่งนั้นจะหมดความเป็นประชาธิปไตยไปในทันที เพราะหลักการเรื่องการควบคุมทหารโดยพลเรือนนั้นอนุญาตให้ทหารมีบทบาททางการเมืองได้ตราบใดที่ยังอยู่ใต้การควบคุมของรัฐบาลพลเรือน แต่หากทหารมีบทบาททางการเมืองในลักษณะที่อยู่นอกเหนือการควบคุมของพลเรือนแล้วก็จะถือว่าส่งผลลบต่อความเป็นประชาธิปไตย นอกจากนี้ การนำเอาแนวคิดเรื่องการควบคุมทหารโดยพลเรือนมาใช้นั้นก็ช่วยให้เราสามารถจำแนกบทบาทของทหารในทางการเมืองออกเป็นด้านต่างๆ ได้ ซึ่งทำให้เราเห็นภาพของความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างพลเรือนกับทหารอย่างชัดเจนและครอบคลุม รวมถึงช่วยให้การศึกษาบทบาททางการเมืองของทหารในเชิงเปรียบเทียบทำได้อย่างเป็นระบบมากขึ้น
This thesis is a study of the crisis-ridden social transition of the Thai state (1997-2010) by analysing the interrelations of social forces in the Thai historical bloc. The thesis argues that the recent political conflict in Thailand... more
This thesis is a study of the crisis-ridden social transition of the Thai state (1997-2010) by analysing the interrelations of social forces in the Thai historical bloc. The thesis argues that the recent political conflict in Thailand that reached its peak in 2010 transcended the conflict between the Thaksin government and its social antagonists, or merely the conflict between the Yellow and the Red Shirt forces. Rather, the organic crisis of the Thai state in the recent decade should be seen as social reflections of the unfinished process of social transition. Furthermore, this transition contains features of ‘crises’, ‘restructuring’, ‘transition’ and ‘other crises’ within the transition. The thesis employs a Gramscian account as a major theoretical framework because it stresses the importance of history, provides tools to analyse configurations of social forces, and offers a combined focus of political, social, and ideological matters.
This thesis finds that the street fights and violent government repression in May 2010 was only the tip of the iceberg and the incidents of 2010 themselves did not represent a genuine picture of Thailand’s organic crisis. The crisis, this thesis argues, was not caused only by the Thaksin government and its allies. The Thaksin social force should be seen as a part of a broader social transition in which it acted as a ‘social catalyst’ that brought social change to the Thai state in terms of both political economy and socio-ideological elements. Therefore, the crisis of the Thai historical bloc resulted from the clash between the two distinct ‘social relations’―old and new―and the clash is still ongoing. In addition, this thesis has revealed the ‘three’ underlying crisis-ridden characters of the Thai state including social inequality, overwhelming roles of royalism-nationalism, and the harsh application of lèse majesté laws.
Contents: Introduction (p. 6); 1) Legal changes ahead of the election (p. 8); 2) Expectations regarding the post-election situation (p. 17); 3) The situation of the Democrat Party ahead and after of the election (p. 28); 4) The situation... more
Contents:
Introduction (p. 6); 1) Legal changes ahead of the election (p. 8); 2) Expectations regarding the post-election situation (p. 17); 3) The situation of the Democrat Party ahead and after of the election (p. 28); 4) The situation of the Phuea Thai Party ahead of the election (p. 44); 5) The People’s Alliance for Democracy’s “No Vote” campaign (p. 71); 6) Other political parties (p. 92); 7) Electoral violence (p. 101); 8) The voters (p. 107); Conclusion (p. 120); Endnotes (p. 124); References (p. 133).
Chiang Mai is a part of the process of renewing of the Modern Siam Regime. This paper has explored the architecture in Chiang Mai which has been changed by social and political factors in the late of 19th century Western Colonialism... more
Chiang Mai is a part of the process of renewing of the Modern Siam Regime. This paper has explored the architecture in Chiang Mai which has been changed by social and political factors in the late of 19th century Western Colonialism penetrated into the region. However, the leader of Chiang Mai has chosen Siamese government’s side because of political factors. It’s not about the ethnic’s reason at all. Chiang Mai and Bangkok have different languages, cultures and also the life styles. Therefore, the conceptual of Hegemony, which has been used to study the occurrence of the Government’s architecture in Chiang Mai, was determined by Siamese government policy. Is it an impact on life styles, cultures and social spaces through a part of external factors and internal factors As a result, an interpretation of the architecture is the beginning to understand the source of the complexity in Chiang Mai’s architecture because of these things are a reflection between Chiang Mai and Siamese Government which they focused on social and politic part.
The recent deadly mass protests in Bangkok signified a conflict between a stream of struggle against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and a counter-stream that developed in opposition to the 2006 military coup. The article... more
The recent deadly mass protests in Bangkok signified a conflict between a stream of struggle against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and a counter-stream that developed in opposition to the 2006 military coup. The article sketches elements of the first stream, and outlines five dimensions of the second: the similarity of the 1992 and 2010 protests; the role of Thaksin; the shape of Thai democracy; the red shirts as politicized mass movement; and elements of the protest action. Thai politics remain uncertain and volatile. Factors include the continuing protest potential, the strength-ened role of the military, the succession issue, and the consequences of future elec-tions.
การศึกษาบทบาททางการเมืองของทหารมักถือกันว่าทหารไม่สามารถแสดงบทบาทที่เป็นคุณต่อการพัฒนาประชาธิปไตย แต่บทความนี้เสนอว่าในบางสถานการณ์นั้นทหารอาจกระทำการอันเป็นประโยชน์ต่อการพัฒนาประชาธิปไตยขึ้นได้... more
