The Management of Political Relations of the Armed Forces Affecting to the Development of Ideological Democracy in Thai Society, B.E. 2549 (2006) and B.E. 2557 (2014)

Abstract

            The objective academic article of this research was to analyze an authoritarian dictatorship culture through the coup d'état framework under the view of managing new political relations that affects democratic development, and one of the important factors had been affecting the long term in Thailand. This made the civilian government unable to run the country continuously. Considered from the case of a coup d'état in 2006, the military seized power without the intention of forming a government. Moreover, they only aimed to resolve the stressful situation caused by the conflict in society, and supported the royal government in order to take over the country instead of their coup d’état. But still maintains control of the government as a counter signee for the appointment and the removal of political office holders by stipulating that. Furthermore, there was a process for drafting a new constitution which arranged for a resolution by the people and holding elections in the case of the 2014 coup, the military had learned lessons from the past to seizure of power over political ideological mass control. In addition, this situation led to more violent conflicts, and made it necessary for the military to increase the political power and form their own government with the view that political reforms can be successful. A new political tie must be organized, and the military had arranged to draft a new constitution again for having a resolution by the people. In addition, there were special powers under the Constitution (Provisional) Article 44 which was a tool of strategic management in politics. It can be concluded that the two coups showed the originated from the movement of the masses; this had led to the development of democracy that had greatly deteriorated in Thai society due to the movement of various masses from the democratic political expression. Therefore, the resolution of political conflicts must be organized by the civilian government, not by the military intervention. The coup was thus considered a repeat of the authoritarian regime in politics that had become a major obstacle to the development of ideological democracy in Thai society.