The Uses of Public Deliberation Process in Thailand:Lessons Learned from the Deliberative Forums on the Development of Area Surrounding Kwan Phayao and the Revision of the Statute on the National Health System

Abstract

This article uses a comparative case study as a method of examination in order to draw lessons learned from the two case studies that applies the concept of deliberative democracy in public policy making process; i.e., the uses of public deliberation in public policy making process for (1) the development of area surrounding Kwan Phayao and (2) the revision of the Statute on the National Health System. This paper finds that there were both similarities and differences between the two cases in applying the process and methods of the Issue Forums. The public deliberation forums conducted in each case also create both similar and different results in terms of output and outcome. These findings suggest that in significantly applying the process and method of public deliberation to public policy making process in the context of Thailand, the fundamental principles of deliberative democracy must be always considered. For example, organizers of public deliberation forum must pay attention to: the recruitment process that is able to include representatives of all groups of stakeholders; the arrangement of deliberative forums that use a variety of participatory mechanisms; and the meaningful utilization and implementation of the decisions and suggestions derived from the public deliberation forum.