Thai Research and Management Journal

Decentralization and Responsive Policymaking under Crisis: Local Executives and Educational Policy Change in Bangkok during COVID-19

Nitchapat Kitcharern — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant structural limitations within Thailand’s education system. This study examines how decentralization and local political autonomy shaped the ability of schools to manage education during the crisis, focusing on a qualitative comparison between Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) schools and those under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC). The findings suggest that greater autonomy at the local level enabled school leaders in Bangkok to implement flexible and responsive learning approaches, while centralized structures limited such capacity in OBEC schools. These insights underscore the importance of rethinking governance in education: decentralization should no longer be viewed as an optional reform but as an essential component for building a more resilient and adaptive education system for the future.

Music and National Identity as a Diplomatic Tool: The Role of Edith Piaf in Promoting French Soft Power and Nationalism

Athiphat Voranithipak — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This research focuses on the role of Edith Piaf, a cultural icon of France, in promoting national identity and Soft Power through her music. It analyzes the significance of music as a tool for fostering international relations and restoring France's global image in the aftermath of World War II. The study investigates how Piaf's songs not only reflected the emotions of the French people during periods of economic crisis and war but also served as a medium to present a compelling cultural identity that fostered mutual understanding across nations.

Using the theoretical frameworks of Soft Power and cultural nationalism, this study interprets the role of music in diplomacy and the construction of national citizenship. The research includes an analysis of Piaf’s lyrics and the historical context in which her songs were performed, as well as case studies of events where her music impacted political and cultural relations. The findings reveal that music is not merely an art form for entertainment but a powerful instrument for cultivating international relationships, enhancing France's image, and reinforcing national pride and citizenship among its people.

The results underscore how Edith Piaf exemplifies the intersection of art, music, and diplomacy, demonstrating their profound influence on both national and international levels. Her music is recognized as a cultural legacy that has significantly contributed to the sustainable promotion of France's national identity and Soft Power

Factors determining the relationship between Thailand and the People's Republic of China in the Xi Jinping Era

Thasothorn Tootongkam — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The research article on the factors determining the relationship between Thailand and the People's Republic of China in the Xi Jinping Era aims to study the factors determining the relationship between Thailand and the People's Republic of China in the Xi Jinping Era. This research article is based on qualitative research using document research and interviews to analyze descriptive data.

The results found that the factors determining the relationship between Thailand and the People's Republic of China during the Xi Jinping era came from the factors determining the relationship between Thailand and the People's Republic of China during the Xi Jinping era, which can be divided into two parts: Part 1, external factors resulting from changes in all aspects from the 2010s to the 2020s. In terms of international politics, the most prominent are the conflict between the United States and China, changes in the politics, governance, and foreign affairs of the United States, the expansion of the power of the People's Republic of China, the advent of the Russo-Ukrainian war, political conflicts between other countries, and changes in the politics and governance of countries worldwide. In terms of international economics, the most important factors are international development, international trade, international investment, international finance, international aid, and the debt trap. In terms of international society, the most important factors are the spread of the coronavirus, social changes from the growth of the new generation, and an aging society. The second part is internal factors. The political aspect arises from the internal political changes in Thailand, which alternate between democracy and other regimes, which differs from the People's Republic of China, which has an authoritarian dictatorship. The internal economic aspect arises from the differences in economic systems, where Thailand has a capitalist economy, while the People's Republic of China has a market socialist economy, and the internal social differences between Thailand and China.

From Closed Gardens to Developmental Parks: A Case Study on the Evolution of Public Parks in Bangkok

Thasita Supatanarungsan — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This research article investigates the development of public parks in Bangkok from the era of absolute monarchy to the developmental state period. It employs the conceptual framework of Urban Political Ecology (UPE) to analyze the power dynamics embedded in the creation and management of urban green spaces. Public parks are therefore not merely neutral, apolitical natural areas or replicas of nature, but rather products of power relations among the state, capital, and various social groups within specific contexts. The article presents a comparative analysis between the evolution of public parks in Bangkok and case studies from the Western world to illustrate how the establishment of parks in different periods played a crucial role in constructing images of orderliness, modernity, and spatial control—images that reflect the underlying interactions of power.

Local Government, Social Entrepreneurship

Jidapa Thirasisrikul — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The development of area-based mechanisms through the concept of social entrepreneurship represents an approach to state development at the local level, which varies according to social structures and economic readiness. Social entrepreneurship initiatives therefore require collaboration across all sectors, with central authorities working in parallel with local administrative organizations. These local bodies play a crucial role in gathering issues, planning, and serving as coordinating mechanisms to drive social entrepreneurship toward successful outcomes.

The Relationship among the Central Government, Regional Administration, and Local Government of Thailand

Skol Suksermsongchai — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The study of the relationship among the Central Government, Regional Administration, and Local Government of Thailand reveals the complex interplay between different governmental agencies within the bureaucratic system, characterized by structural and operational redundancies in performing state missions.

This is particularly evident in the role of the Regional Administration, which receives delegated authority from the Central Government to exercise administration, control, and supervision over Local Government Organizations (LGOs) that have been decentralized by the Central Government. Consequently, this prevents LGOs from achieving self-reliance in their own management, especially through the internal budget management process, as they are susceptible to intervention from the Regional Administration.

The Evolution of the Thai Legal System and the Foundation of Democratic Governance

Veerachot Chunharungroj — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This academic article aims to explore the development of the Thai legal system and its role in laying the foundations for a democratic regime. The study reveals that significant reforms during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)—specifically the abolition of the Phrai (corvée) and slavery systems, the promotion of education abroad through the King’s Scholarship, royal visits to foreign nations, and, most notably, legal system reforms—served as crucial political foundations for the subsequent emergence of democracy.

These legal reforms were instrumental in completing the establishment of a modern bureaucracy and preparing the nation for its transition into a modern state. This preparation paved the way for the drafting of a constitution and the eventual transition of the monarchy to a constitutional role. Consequently, the political transformation on June 24, 1932, is regarded as a concrete reflection and outcome of these earlier Thai legal reforms. Furthermore, the article discusses the development of the legal system in the post-1932 era and addresses contemporary challenges the Thai legal system faces in upholding the rule of law within a democratic framework.