The Principles of Civil-Military Relations and Mishaps from the 2006 to 2014 Military Coups : Lessons Learned for Thai Society and Military Reform

Abstract

This article aimed to study civil-military relations after the 2006 military coup with emphasis on the period of the Yingluck Shinawatra government. Related text books, documents, reports, and articles as well as journal publications were used as data for documentary analysis. It was found that from the 2006 military coup onwards, the military had a continuous role and influence in the country, especially during the period of the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra which was a civilian government. There was no sign of an appropriate civil-military relationship. One reason for this derived from legal constraints. The government’s willingness to compromise and reluctance to impose itself together with its desire to avoid confrontation with the military was considered to be a threat to the government’s stability. Thus, the military continued to take a role in politics. Furthermore, when the civilian government created situations which might have altered the relationship between the civilian government and the military, especially relating to aspects such as the legitimacy of the government or the royal institution, these served to create disequilibrium in the relationship between civilians and the military in a democratic society. Finally, the situation led to the military moving to take all political power from the civilian government in 2014.