GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ADDRESSING CORRUPTION IN THE THAI BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEM

Abstract

The application of good governance principles to address corruption problems in the Thai bureaucratic system. Corruption is a chronic problem that undermines national development, as reflected in Thailand’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) score of only 34 points in 2024, ranking 107 st out of 180 countries. Common forms of corruption included procurement fraud, bribery, position trading, and patronage networks. Key causes included deeply rooted patronage systems, social values that glorified wealth and power, lax bureaucratic controls, and economic problems of some government officials. Good governance offered an important approach to solving these problems, comprising six principles: rule of law, morality, transparency, participation, accountability, and value for money. The application of good governance must be holistic as all principles are interconnected. Prevention and resolution of corruption required promoting ethics at individual and organizational levels, coupled with promoting good governance across all sectors. Additionally, religious moral principles should be integrated into public administration, especially Hiri-Ottappa (moral shame and fear) and the four virtues for household life. Effective problem-solving requires both cultivating consciousness and strict, fair law enforcement, with cooperation from all sectors to create a transparent society sustainably free from corruption.