The Socio-economic Power-bases of the Thai Bureaucratic Elite

Abstract

Bureaucrats have been playing a very significant role in the administration and politics of Thailand. The failure of the smooth development of extra-bureaucratic political institutions such as political parties, elected legislative assembly, coupled with the prevalence of military coup d’etat have left the Thai bureaucracy with an omnipotent role in the decision-making process and policy formulation of the country. These career bureaucratats especially those on the top echelon have virtually monopolized political and administrative power, running the routines as well as initiating policy. Thus, the argument, now a cliché, that Thailand is a “bureaucratic polity” is a rather accurate description of the situation.