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Ginola
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A Man's Random Walk

politik, economik, foreign affairs
Permalink : http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/ginola

Wednesday , January 21 , 2009

The Same Old Thai Political Parties

Posted by Ginola , Reader : 797 , 15:27:13

As most scholars would agree, essential in the success of any democracy is the quality of its political parties. Sadly for the Thai democracy, however, the quality of our political parties is anything but satisfying. Diffrent political parties are supposed to represent different groups of citizens. Different parties are supposed to possess some forms of ideology, which in turn drive their policy platforms that appeal to the people. In contrast to what it should be, a Thai political party merely serves the interests of a few individuals: the party leader, the secretary-general, the party executives, the leaders of key MP factions and, perhaps most importantly, the party's financiers. The party also serves the interest of the military generals and police officers who have "contributed" to the party's "progress". Access to the party is also very limited. Without personal relationships with the party's leaders or financiers, it is very difficult for capable individuals to join and rise through the ranks in any political party. Recruitment and promotion of party members still rely on personal connections - just take a look at how many Shinawatra family members are involved in TRT, PPP and PT parties, and also at how many of Abhisit's Oxford friends hold important positions in the party. There are a lot of capable individuals in Thailand who have the will and the ability to contribute great things to the country, but the limited opportunity to enter politics via political parties have hindered their desire. As such, most MP candidates are local influentials, capitalists, family members and other "nominees" of old MPs. Capable people who want to run for office stand little chance of being nominated. And as we have witnessed from the current government, even some long-serving dedicated MPs still have to give in to other influential figures like the party's financiers, PAD members and those close to the party leadership. Participation through political parties are also very limited. The obvious truth is that while a few parties may have millions of people registered as party members, 99% of these people do not have a role to play when it comes to choosing their party MP candidates or designing policies. When a party becomes the leading party in a government, most of the policies it implements again serve the interests of its leaders, executives, MP faction leaders, financiers and coalition party leaders. Ministerial and advisory seats are allocated based not on individuals' merits but on personal relationships, how many MP seats they possess, and how much the individuals contribute (financially) to the party. Policies that appear to benefit the people are often short-term means aimed at winning popularity and votes, without much thoughts given to the policy appropriateness and the long-term consequences. The many examples of these short-sighted policies are some populist policies implemented in the Thaksin era and under the Democrat government (e.g. giving 2,000 baht to some 6 million people with monthly salary below 15,000bt). Several decades have passed since Thailand adopted a democratic system under constitutional monarchy, but a true political party is yet to be born. Thus, a crucial challenge that a new wave of political reform and any future constitutional amendment needs to address is how to facilitate the progress of true political parties that represent and serve the interests of the citizens, not a few individuals. This is a task too big for any PM, any lawyer, any professor or any individual to achieve alone. It requires the will and the efforts of the society as a whole. Sadly for Thai democracy (again), the public will and efforts toward this end appear to be lacking at the moment.

As most scholars would agree, essential in the success of any democracy is the quality of its political parties.

Sadly for the Thai democracy, however, the quality of our political parties is anything but satisfying.

Diffrent political parties are supposed to represent different groups of citizens. Different parties are supposed to possess some forms of ideology, which in turn drive their policy platforms that appeal to the people.

In contrast to what it should be, a Thai political party merely serves the interests of a few individuals: the party leader, the secretary-general, the party executives, the leaders of key MP factions and, perhaps most importantly, the party's financiers.

The party also serves the interest of the military generals and police officers who have "contributed" to the party's "progress".

Access to the party is also very limited. Without personal relationships with the party's leaders or financiers, it is very difficult for capable individuals to join and rise through the ranks in any political party.

Recruitment and promotion of party members still rely on personal connections - just take a look at how many Shinawatra family members are involved in TRT, PPP and PT parties, and also at how many of Abhisit's Oxford friends hold important positions in the party.

There are a lot of capable individuals in Thailand who have the will and the ability to contribute great things to the country, but the limited opportunity to enter politics via political parties have hindered their desire.

As such, most MP candidates are local influentials, capitalists, family members and other "nominees" of old MPs. Capable people who want to run for office stand little chance of being nominated.

And as we have witnessed from the current government, even some long-serving dedicated MPs still have to give in to other influential figures like the party's financiers, PAD members and those close to the party leadership.

Participation through political parties are also very limited. The obvious truth is that while a few parties may have millions of people registered as party members, 99% of these people do not have a role to play when it comes to choosing their party MP candidates or designing policies.

When a party becomes the leading party in a government, most of the policies it implements again serve the interests of its leaders, executives, MP faction leaders, financiers and coalition party leaders. Ministerial and advisory seats are allocated based not on individuals' merits but on personal relationships, how many MP seats they possess, and how much the individuals contribute (financially) to the party.

Policies that appear to benefit the people are often short-term means aimed at winning popularity and votes, without much thoughts given to the policy appropriateness and the long-term consequences.

The many examples of these short-sighted policies are some populist policies implemented in the Thaksin era and under the Democrat government (e.g. giving 2,000 baht to some 6 million people with monthly salary below 15,000bt).

Several decades have passed since Thailand adopted a democratic system under constitutional monarchy, but a true political party is yet to be born.

Thus, a crucial challenge that a new wave of political reform and any future constitutional amendment needs to address is how to facilitate the progress of true political parties that represent and serve the interests of the citizens, not a few individuals.

This is a task too big for any PM, any lawyer, any professor or any individual to achieve alone. It requires the will and the efforts of the society as a whole.

Sadly for Thai democracy (again), the public will and efforts toward this end appear to be lacking at the moment.

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comment 7
Ian date : 22/01/2009 time : 11.12
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/anterian36

I think most bloggers who have thought about this problem have also suggested decentralisation as the path to follow. I definitely think so.

comment 6
rob date : 22/01/2009 time : 08.46

C2
re
"all the farangs and foreigners (in this blog site) as advisors."
Guess that includes me then, albeit to a minor insignificant part. In which case, thanks but NO THANKS. I have neither the knowledge nor the skill to be an advisor to any political group. I read and sometimes reply to blogs to acquire information.

Well I guess there are other reasons which would be, ignoring ones ability (or not in my case), is to (i) get a finger in the deals and treasury etc and (ii) boost the testosterone ego by self important titles up to aspiring to world domination.

Alas, (i) have never had any interest in wealth, always give my surplus (not much) away to more needy each month/year and although I am no “saint” and I do wrong every week if not day, this is never financial and I have certainly never had an interest in corruption.
(ii) I dislike attention and have never wanted even local fame and power let alone village, country, or world wide power

So again leave me out please

So I guess:-
"..so in the end all i wanted was world domination and a whole lot of money to spend..." (partial lyrics from "great expectations”, by New Model Army)
…..Does not apply to all, and certainly not to me.
{{But then again, this song was a sarcastic and cutting critique on such people and especially establishments, as you would expect being derived from the novel by charles dickens}}

By the way, are ‘New Model Army’ banned in Thailand (yet)? I haven’t checked the CD/record shops. I mean not only are they socialist lyrics and ‘northerners’ (Leeds-Bradford, Yorkshire, UK), but hey they take their name from Oliver Cromwell’s crack but somewhat merciless army division which under general slade (“the leveler”) had a strong, within context, anti-monarchist history!

comment 5
Alien date : 22/01/2009 time : 07.28

"I'd love to change the world...
But I don't know what to do...
So I leave it up to you"
-- Ten Years After

comment 4
Ginola date : 21/01/2009 time : 21.34
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/ginola
ginola

Ian:

In some blogs I do offer solutions, in others like this one, I only state the problems.

I didn't offer the solution here simply because I can't claim to know for sure exactly what to do! As I said, it does require the thoughts and efforts of the public as a whole, not any one individual, to move Thailand forward democratically.

That said, I am pretty sure that Thai academia have studied this issue of democratization or political party development in depth. There are perhaps several good papers out there that provide recommendations of what to do but have been neglected.

I believe one of the key issues here is decentralization. Indonesia's "successful" and "radical" decentralization would be a case study that we Thais should learn from and adapt to our environment.

Decentralization will empower people participation across all regions as local people will have a say in how local governments spend the budget (although it is by no means a guaranteed 100% success) and make elections relevant. Political parties will have to listen to and serve the local needs. Strong parties will need to be strong at local levels.

This, to me, is one basis for political party development.

Peacefulness:

Thanks for the advice but as long as the constitution remains as sucky as it is now, there is no room for a true party to emerge and grow.

Plus, the "powers" that be in Thai politics remain a few individuals who continue to dominate and manuevour Thai politics. I guess I am too weak to resist that. But perhaps within 20 years from now, things will change.

Teddy:

Some people have started to form a party that is more representative of people, or groups of people. Prof Giles, recently charged with lese majeste, has been instrumental in trying to form a left-wing coalition/party - very small of course but that's just one small example.

comment 3
Teddy date : 21/01/2009 time : 20.53
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/I-Man

Mate, despite some frivolous comments, please accept this as a "thumbs up" for a very sensible observation.Perhaps you have not provided the answers but this is the purpose of blogs. To generate thought.My small contribution would be to hope that groups of people of like mind, e.g a green party, or a pensioner group, could start something."Pie in the sky" perhaps?

comment 2
peacefulness date : 21/01/2009 time : 17.42
Nationmultimedia.com

ginola--- why don't you register a new political pty with กกต kor kor tor (the election commission) by youself with flwg members.......

pty leader, maxheadroom
secretary gen. ginola
deputy leader, pomjuk
deputy sec gen. rakbkk
all the farangs and foreigners (in this blog site)as advisors.

congratulations !!!!!!!

comment 1
Ian date : 21/01/2009 time : 16.16
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/anterian36

I would say that to most intelligent people you are stating the obvious.
In physics we say first define the problem before you look for a solution.
This does not seem to work in politics, you have clearly defined the problem, now where do we go?

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