Local Government Changes in Thailand.

Abstract

This paper aimed to study the changes in local government of Thailand in nine issues: 1) local decentralization, 2) local self-government, 3) local regulation, 4) local autonomy, 5) public participation, 6) local structure, 7) local capacity, 8) local finance, and 9) local personnel administration.

Local government in Thailand, developed more than 100 years ago, essentially changed in many issues, following the political, economic, and social changes in each period. The current changes in the local government had resulted from the decentralization to local organization, especially after B.E. 2540 Constitution. This particular Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand strongly specified public participation and decentralization that had led to the promulgation of many laws and regulations involving local government and has been carried on to the Constitution of B.E. 2550. These changes conformed to globalization and the new public management. Moreover, it has developed from national democracy to local democracy that could truly lead to the development by the people.