Forcing the Genie Back in the Bottle: Sociological Considerations of Institutional Reform in Thailand Through the Window of Health Policy
40 Pages Posted: 30 Aug 2011
Date Written: March 19, 2010
Abstract
In 2007, those behind the 2006 coup drafted a new constitution specifically aimed at turning back the political and policymaking clock to the pre-1997 era. However, in the preceding decade under the 1997 constitution, a significant transformation of Thai politics had taken place, one that has proved more resilient than expected in the face of the 2007 institutional reforms. Specifically, social cleavages have become politicized and particized in ways we have not seen before and policy-focused, populist party programs have become part and parcel of serious party campaign strategies. Focusing on health policy, we thus argue in this paper that institutional reforms have had predictable and observable implications for policymaking in Thailand, but only when considered in the context of changes to the broader social structure and other political conditions. While the 1997 reforms brought about a well-documented shift towards a more centralized, coordinated, and nationally-focused policymaking environment, the 2007 reforms have been less successful at reversing that impact. In short, the coup-makers are finding it harder than they supposed to force the genie back into the bottle.
Keywords: Thailand, Electoral Reform, Electoral Rules, Thaksin, Coup, Political Parties, Sociology, Social Structure, Health Policy, Healthcare
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