Political, economic and social relationships and the election of Pattaya City Council and Pattaya City Mayor 2022 : An analysis in political economy

Abstract

         The main objectives of this study were as follows: 1.to study the national political relationship with Pattaya mayoral and council elections,2.to study the economic and social relations of Pattaya City with Pattaya mayoral and council elections. This is an interdisciplinary qualitative research in political economy by collecting data from the field research, observation, in-depth interview and group interview. The results of the study can be summarized as follows: 1.the structure of national political factor was related to politics and the election of Pattaya mayoral and council elections. National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) used its power to intervene in local government of Pattaya City to prepare for the succession of power. There was a coordination of class interests which become a structural interaction of national political power, which has an effect on Pattaya City mayoral and council elections inevitably, 2.the current economic and social structural factors of Pattaya City had an effect on Pattaya mayoral and council elections. The economic recession in Pattaya after the 2014 coup and the spread of COVID-19 severely affected entrepreneurs. Pattaya mayoral and council elections were a good sign for democratic politics after 10 years without an election, including political psychology to stimulate and build confidence among entrepreneurs and tourists that Pattaya City could return to democracy again.