This paper recounts the development of political science in Thailand and identifies the subfields and approaches used in political science studies. The paper argues that the orientation of political science has been a product of the historical process of semi-colonialism and Thailand's pattern of development based on internal colonization with a high degree of centralization in Bangkok in all dimensions, whether economic, political, or cultural. Moreover, the alternation between varying forms of military rule and prolonged colour-coded politics have been major factors influencing the debates and the substance of political science in the country which has also brought about the politicization of Thai academics. The paper seeks to assess the current situation of and challenges to the study of political science in Thailand.
IntroductionThis paper has two goals. It first gives an account of the setting and evolution of political studies in Thailand. It examines university course structures and subject matter published in the two foremost political science journals to give an overview of the sub-fields of and the approaches to political science in Thailand. Then the paper proceeds to identify three factors affecting the development of political science in Thailand, namely the historical background, the political regime, and conflicting perceptions and enduring political disputes. Much of the analysis focuses on opposing standpoints and the attempts to influence, shape, and construct political discourse and the political science discipline in Thailand.