The State of Knowledge on Bureaucratic Development Under Thailand’s Constitutional Provisions, 1991–2017
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Abstract
Political reform in Thailand has unfolded since the promulgation of the 1997 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, with the bureaucratic system consistently serving as a central element of these reform processes. This study has two main objectives: (1) to assess the state of knowledge regarding the 1991, 1997, 2006, 2007, 2014 and 2017 Thai Constitutions, particularly with respect to provisions concerning the bureaucracy; and (2) to propose research issues for developing constitutional provisions on the bureaucracy so that they correspond to, or keep pace with, contemporary economic, social, and political conditions. The study employs a documentary research method to analyze the content of the three constitutions. The findings indicate, first, that constitutional provisions related to the bureaucracy can be categorized into four dimensions: (1.1) the structure of the bureaucratic system, (1.2) bureaucratic processes and procedures, (1.3) administrative techniques, and (1.4) consistency with contemporary concepts of public administration. Second, research issues for developing constitutional provisions concerning the bureaucracy in line with present circumstances can be identified in three areas: (2.1) the actual conditions of the bureaucratic system under the 2017 Constitution, (2.2) the economic, social, and political factors affecting the current bureaucracy, and (2.3) the constitutional gaps in the 2017 provisions related to the bureaucracy. These findings underscore the importance of constitutional design in shaping the adaptability and effectiveness of the Thai bureaucratic system within the broader context of ongoing political reform.
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