Administrative Reform and Tidal Waves from Regime Shifts: Tsunamis in Thailand’s Political and Administrative History

Abstract

The analogy of tidal waves is taken from the 26 December 2004 tsunami that devastated parts of Thailand and other Asian countries. Regime shifts or changes in systems and styles of government produce "tidal waves" that affect the direction and progress of administrative reform. Examples of major regime shifts pausing tidal waves or tsunami are drawn from Thai experience from 1932 to the present. The Thaksin Administration (2001-present) provides an especially notable example of a major regime shift from democratic governance to democratic authoritarianism. The Thaksin tsunami has resulted in a definite centralisation and consolidation of political power in the hands of the Prime Minister.

The politics of institutional reform: Vulnerability and bureaucratic independence in Southeast Asian agriculture

“…Thailand during the 1960s was famously described as a "bureaucratic polity" in which politics took place as competition within government agencies rather than in a separate political sphere (Riggs, 1966). While civilian politicians become more influential during the 1990s and early 2000s, with the exception of the Thaksin Shinawatra (2001-2006) and Yingluck Shinawatra (2011-2014 governments, civilian regimes have almost always presided over weak coalition governments, leaving bureaucratic officials with relatively high levels of policy influence (Bowornwathana, 2005;Ockey, 2004;Ricks, 2018;Unger, 2003). The irrigation department stands out among these as one of the most influential departments.…”

Civil service reforms in Hong Kong and Thailand: similar goals, different paths

“…The financial crisis in 1997 encouraged, if not mandated, the incorporation of good governance principles into the Thai public sector (The World Bank, 2003;Bowornwathana, 2005). Seven elements of good governance were identified to maximise benefits for citizens: achieving public goals; emphasizing efficiency and value for money; streamlining work processes; reviewing periodically to ensure relevance; satisfying citizens' demands; and monitoring and evaluating performance (OPDC, 2018a).…”

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