The Limitations on Democratization in Thailand through the Lens of the 2006 Military Coup

A. Stern
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引用次数: 3

Abstract

This essay analyzes the military coup that occurred in Thailand on September 19, 2006. It considers what led to this event in a country many considered as having made substantial progress in consolidating its democracy. The main argument focuses on the lack of a mass political movement or group that is well-organized, well-financed, and motivated enough to mount a successful, sustained challenge to the key power holders in Thailand: high-level government politicians, the Thai owners or major Thai shareholders of large domestic corporations, and high-ranking military leaders. The lack of a strong and varied interest group structure in Thailand is a critical fissure in the country's political system. Interest group weaknesses have four characteristics: (1) the imbalance of power between the state and interest groups remains highly skewed toward the government; (2) much of the interest group community lacks enough autonomy from the state to effectively promote political reforms; (3) interest groups are fragmented in ways that create major obstacles to forming national coalitions or political parties that support democratization; and (4) the proclivities of Thai history favor a strong monarchy and there is no colonial legacy. These weaknesses contribute substantially to the tenuousness of Thai democracy and leave the political system open to dominance by such powerful players.
从2006年军事政变看泰国民主化的局限性
本文分析了2006年9月19日发生在泰国的军事政变。它审议了在一个许多人认为已在巩固其民主方面取得重大进展的国家发生这一事件的原因。主要论点集中在缺乏一个组织良好、资金充足、有足够动力的大规模政治运动或团体,来成功地、持续地挑战泰国的主要权力持有者:高级政府政客、大型国内公司的泰国所有者或主要泰国股东,以及高级军事领导人。泰国缺乏一个强大而多样的利益集团结构,这是该国政治体制的一个关键裂痕。利益集团弱点有四个特点:(1)国家与利益集团之间的权力失衡仍然高度向政府倾斜;(2)许多利益集团缺乏足够的国家自主权,无法有效推动政治改革;(3)利益集团的分裂方式对形成支持民主化的全国联盟或政党造成了重大障碍;(4)泰国历史倾向于一个强大的君主制,没有殖民遗产。这些弱点在很大程度上导致了泰国民主的脆弱,并使政治制度任由这些强大的参与者支配。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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