Thai Politics

Description

"A must-read.... This much-needed and refreshing alternative to simple institutional examinations provides a deep exploration of Thailand and its political upheavals." --Denise M. Horn, Simmons College The prospects for Thailand¿s emergence as a democracy seemed strong in the 1990s. Yet, as most recently demonstrated by military coups in 2006 and 2014, that hasn¿t happened. Why not? Why have factors typically considered advantageous for democratization turned into barriers? Is there a uniquely Thai reason that democratization efforts have failed? Daniel Unger and Chandra Mahakanjana explore the intersecting and often contradictory forces that are shaping the nature of Thai politics today. Paying overdue attention to a complex of social, cultural, and institutional dynamics, they offer a nuanced portrait of the ongoing tug-of-war between authoritarian and democratic impulses. Daniel H. Unger teaches political science at Thammasat University. Chandra Mahakanjana teaches in the Graduate School of Public Administration at Thailand¿s National Institute of Development Administration. (Source: Google Books API)