Journal of Political Science and Legal Studies

Populist Policies and Their Impact on Thailand’s Political Stability: Structural Perspectives and Power Dynamics

2025-09-13T07:14:55+07:00

This article aims to analyze the impacts of populist policies on political stability in Thailand over the past two decades through the lenses of political science and political economy. It examines both the positive and negative effects of populist policies implemented by successive governments, including those led by Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck Shinawatra, and Prayut Chan-o-cha. In-depth case studies are presented to compare the outcomes of populist policies in different periods, while also considering the roles of political institutions, checks and balances, and political culture in shaping political stability and vulnerability.The findings indicate that populist policies play a significant role in generating short-term popularity and expanding electoral bases by addressing the needs of grassroots populations through the distribution of welfare and public services, such as the “30 Baht Universal Healthcare” scheme and the “State Welfare Card.” However, these policies often face sustainability challenges due to a lack of strategic planning and transparent management, resulting in fiscal vulnerabilities and political instability in the long term. Additionally, divisive rhetoric and the concentration of power exacerbate social conflicts and weaken political accountability mechanisms.

The Influence of Political Parties on Public Policy Formation in Thailand: A Structural and Power Dynamics Analysis

2025-10-03T07:19:01+07:00

This article aims to analyze the role and influence of political parties in shaping public policy in Thailand, critically examining structural and political process issues affecting national policy development. Using political science and public policy frameworks, the study highlights the impacts of a fragile party system, clientelism, and power struggles focused more on accumulating power and particularistic interests than on serving the public good. Findings indicate that political parties in Thailand often use public policy as a political tool to maintain and expand their electoral base by distributing benefits to targeted groups. This practice leads to discontinuity and lack of sustainability in policies, reducing policy effectiveness and increasing political uncertainty. Moreover, internal and inter-party conflicts, along with the influence of vested interests, pose significant challenges to transparent and participatory policy-making processes. The article proposes policy recommendations to strengthen political parties and the political system in Thailand by reforming internal party structures, enhancing checks and balances, and promoting greater public participation. These measures aim to foster transparent, effective, and responsive policy-making processes that genuinely address societal needs. This study aspires to contribute to raising awareness and supporting sustainable reforms in Thailand’s political system and public policy.

Land Rights Law Reform in Thailand: Proposals and Issues

2025-11-03T13:55:37+07:00

This article aims to analyze the problems and limitations of land rights laws in Thailand and proposes reform measures to address injustice and promote sustainable land resource management. Using legal and sociological frameworks, the study evaluates the impacts of current laws that fail to adequately protect and meet the needs of all citizens fairly. The findings reveal a complex and unclear legal system that creates loopholes exploited by powerful elites and state officials. Ethnic minorities and low-income groups are disproportionately affected, often losing access to land and housing without adequate protection. Conflicts between local communities, government agencies, and private sectors further complicate disputes. The article recommends comprehensive legal reforms to clarify and broaden land rights protections, strengthen checks and balances, encourage public participation, and utilize information technology to enhance transparency. These proposals aim to establish a fair, effective, and responsive land rights system ,to contribute to fostering reform momentum and promoting justice in Thailand’s land governance.

Thailand’s Deep State and Democratic Backsliding: Extra-Constitutional Power in Post-Election Governanc

2025-12-08T19:07:39+07:00

This article examines the phenomenon of “post-election politics without real electoral governance” in Thailand, which reflects a persistent structural crisis of Thai democracy. Although elections formally exist as a source of political legitimacy, real power often remains outside the electoral arena. This study employs the concept of the “Deep State” as an analytical framework to explain the continuity of extra-constitutional power structures that have persisted after repeated military coups. The study investigates the mechanisms through which the Deep State intervenes in elected governments, including constitutional engineering, the political role of independent agencies, judicialization of politics (lawfare), and recurring military interventions justified in the name of national security and social order. The findings reveal that Thailand’s Deep State is not merely an abstract network of influence but a concrete institutional structure linking the military, high-level bureaucracy, the judiciary, and economic elites. These interconnected institutions significantly constrain the authority of elected governments. As a result, Thai democracy remains trapped in a condition of “restricted democracy,” characterized by weak institutional accountability, recurring cycles of political violence, and a fragile rule of law.The article argues that dismantling the power of the Deep State requires comprehensive structural reforms, particularly in constitutional design, civil–military relations, judicial accountability, and the promotion of a democratic political culture based on transparency and public oversight. Only through such reforms can Thai democracy be restored to reflect the genuine political will of the people and achieve long-term democratic stability.