The Direction of decentralization and Local government reform After 2014 Thai coup d’Etat

Abstract

Previously, the decentralization in Thailand had principally been based on the main idea of state-oriented. In other words, Thai local governments were monopolistically established by the authority of central government, called “Local State Government”, which focused on local administration rather than local people. The local-state government negatively affected on locality and local people in terms of (1) corruption that caused by business-politics cycle in locality and (2) difficulty of people’s weakness that caused by state dependency. That’s why decentralization and local government in Thailand might be completely terminated, soon. Recently, there is the reformation in Thailand. So, there should be reconsideration regarding to decentralization and local government reform. This article will highlight on changing of the alternative notion of decentralization that concentrates on locality and local people rather than local government itself. People empowerment as well as civic education are a crucial responsibility that should be participated and created by all stakeholders staunchly in order to institute “Local Self Government” in Thailand.