Political Science Review

NETWORK GOVERNANCE ON TIME BANK IN CHOMPHU SUBDISTRICT SARAPHI DISTRICT CHIANG MAI PROVINCE

2024-08-05T08:36:58+07:00

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between actors involved in the operations of the Chomphu Subdistrict Time Bank in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Qualitative research methods, including document analysis and in-depth interviews with nine key informants, were employed. The informants comprised government representatives from the Ban Phaya Chomphu Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital and non-government actors such as Time Bank managers, the secretary, the president of the Chomphu Subdistrict Disabled Service Center, and four Time Bank members. The findings revealed that the relationships within the network were characterized by coordination, cooperation, and collaboration. Individuals, groups, and agencies from diverse sectors worked together through a formal committee structure. The Chomphu Subdistrict Time Bank network exhibited both formal and informal characteristics, with the Time Bank manager serving as the coordinator to foster trust among all actors. The network facilitated resource exchange, interdependence, and effective support for the elderly community in the area.

Constructing Legitimacy

2024-10-31T14:31:07+07:00

This study examines the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) legitimization process of its 1951 occupation of Tibet, investigating the specific mechanisms employed to assert sovereignty over the region. The findings reveal that beyond military intervention, the CCP implemented a systematic campaign to construct a narrative of Tibet's “peaceful liberation.” This narrative encompassed several key elements: highlighting Tibet's internal challenges, including its harsh terrain and feudal social structure that oppressed lower classes; reframing Tibet's sovereignty as an external issue; establishing China's historical claims to Tibet; and emphasizing the benefits of Chinese administration in Tibet. This process demonstrates the sophisticated propaganda capabilities of the Chinese Communist Party. However, the Chinese nationalist movement's efforts to incorporate Tibet as part of China did not achieve the desired level of success, as evidenced by the continuous waves of protests in Tibet that have persisted from that period until the present day.

Imperialism and Subimperialism in Mainland Southeast Asia

2024-10-18T15:17:52+07:00

This article presents results of an exploratory study on imperialism and subimperialism in the Mekong subregion, including an overview of classical and contemporary debates on imperialism and methodologies developed to quantify unequal exchange. It extends these to analyse trade and investment trends based on existing data for the subregion. Previous studies have incorporated analysis of Thailand and Vietnam, this is the first to incorporate Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia too. It finds existing data is inadequate but also evidence that Thailand and to a lesser extent Vietnam have benefited from subimperialist relations with neighbouring countries at the expense of ecology and fractions of labour. It concludes that developing countries should remain sceptical of mainstream development economics and statistical data based on them and that Thailand and Vietnam can be considered subimperialist powers with a functional role of mediating imperialist relations between the subregion and the world market. The research contributes to historical materialist scholarship on the international relations and development of mainland Southeast Asia and the political economy of contemporary imperialism and has implications for subaltern classes across the subregion and other peripheral and semi-peripheral economies across the world. It can also be used to support future research that challenges realist, liberal, and constructivist approaches to minilateral institutions such as the GMS, ACMECS, and the LMC from a historical materialist perspective.

Public Policy for Driving Circular Economy in Thailand

2023-10-10T12:17:52+07:00

This article aims to explain the circular economy (CE) policy in Thailand through the Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management, 2018-2030. The roadmap exemplifies an effort to collaboratively develop and co-produce public policy involving the public and private sectors within the context of a changing and complex economy. The incorporation of the idea of co-production into the roadmap signifies significant factors that have motivated relevant actors engaged in plastic waste management for CE policy. Additionally, this article points out that policy still lacks a degree of public participation, addressing people as co-initiators and co-designers. Co-production can help enhance the likelihood of more efficient public participation in the policy process.

The National Strategy under the Senate

2024-07-10T14:33:17+07:00

The 12^Th Thai Senate is established according to the transitional chapter of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560. The transitional chapter of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560 authorized the senate’s extraordinary responsibility in monitoring and controlling the National Strategy. However, the background of the senate member can be categorized in 4 groups: 1) Soldiers/police officers, 2) Bureaucrats/state - owned enterprise officers, 3) Civil society networks and local wisdom, and 4) Politicians/business sectors. The study shows each group plays different roles and approaches in controlling the executive. Some mechanisms, together with the policy implementation by the government executives and bureaucratic offices, resulted in positive agenda control. In other words, the government prioritizes the implementation of the National Strategy meet the Senate’s expectation. Moreover, the policy implementation follows the National Strategy. Hence, the senate trusts the government is capable to following and achieving the strategic plan. For these reasons, the relations between the senate members and the executive are concluded as a constructive relationship.