Analysis of Influence of Political Context and Interest Groups on E-waste Management Policies in Thailand

Abstract

This research aims to 1) analyze the political influences over Thailand's e-waste policy formation and e-waste management 2) analyze the interest groups in Thailand's economic system that influences or disrupt Thailand's e-wasted policy formation 3) develop the proper E-waste management policy and supportive policy to comply with Thailand's country context for further policy implementation. (Finding 1) The political context that influences policy formation comes from social intervention to intervene or dominate the state power. Because of the elite class's distinct characteristics, policy formation in Thailand is influenced not only by the mechanism of direct in-charge authorities, but also by elite influence to empower these direct in-charge authorities during the policy formation process. On top of that, (Finding 2) the interest groups in Thailand's economic system that influence or disrupt Thailand's e-wasted policy formation have long interrelation with political parties. As long as these interest groups have the ability to influence environmental law and policy formation and execution in Thailand's political framework, this connection will lead to personal gains from the policy and a desire to push the policy forward to benefit these interest groups. In addition, (Finding 3) This study has created a framework to assist government sectors in accelerating the formation of law, relegation, or restriction to upgrade e-waste management policy formation and implementation that is synchronized with Thailand's context in order to improve the country's long-term e-waste management and recycling system.