THAILAND'S INDEPENDENT AGENCIES UNDER THAKSIN: Relentless Gridlock and Uncertainty

Argues that the victory of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra & his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party established Thailand's first-ever popularly elected single-party administration & ensured Thaksin's hegemonic control over parliament & other key state institutions. The focus is on the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Southeast Asian affairs 2006-01, Vol.2006 (33), p.303-321
Main Author: Mutebi, Alex M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Administrative courts
Audits
Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism (Political Ideology)
Broadcasting
Bureaucracy
Bureaucrats
Constitutional law
Corruption
Countries
Democracy
Elections
Government agencies
Hegemony
Human rights
Judges & magistrates
Judiciary
Legislatures
Nepotism
Parliamentary elections
Parliamentary system
Political appointments
Political candidates
Political conditions
Political institutions
Political Parties
Political power
Political stability
Political systems
Prime Ministers
Public officials
Telecommunications
Tenure
Thailand
Thaksin, Shinawatra
Uncertainty
Upper houses
Violations
Voter fraud
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Summary:Argues that the victory of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra & his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party established Thailand's first-ever popularly elected single-party administration & ensured Thaksin's hegemonic control over parliament & other key state institutions. The focus is on the status of Thailand's independent agencies & the consequences for democracy of Thaksin's authoritarianism & hegemonic control over political institutions. Special attention is given to the purported manipulation of independent watchdog agencies by special interest groups said to be aligned with the Prime Minister. Specific events are explored in relation to four key agencies: the State Audit Commission; the National Counter Corruption Commission; the National Broadcasting Commission; & the National Telecommunication Commission. In spite of control by Thaksin & the TRT, it is noted that various groups & progressive forces have used these agencies as focal points for opposition activity & the promotion of democracy. The prospects for continuing political contestation & challenges to Thaksin's authoritarian project are discussed. J. Lindroth
ISSN:0377-5437
1793-9135