Research On Thai Political Development From The Perspective Of Political Culture (after 1990s)

From 1992 to 2016, Thailand went through ten terms of Prime Ministry. The country had a history of political coups. Military government alternated with elected government. Emerging political power fighted with traditional political power. Political structure tended to be diversified. Local political and business groups utilized capital getting involved into bribery. New capital group achieved political rise. Peasants got to be politicized deeply. Thai politic after 1990s fell into a coup vicious cycle.This article chooses perspective of political culture, mainly analyzes political development of Thailand after 1990s, understanding nation behavior from national political culture and interpreting bahviors seemingly contradictory but conforming to political culture traditions. Thai political culture manily displays in three aspects:Buddhism culture, Patronage tradition and Authoritarianism.Thai Buddhism culture experienced secularization and politicization evolution by providing legitimacy for state power and taking assisting ruling as major task. Buddhism culture makes deification of kingship which contributing to establishing a high political prestige for the King. Buddhism ideology instructed people to be tolerant and nice which contributing to maintaining social stability and order of daily life especially after coups. Buddhism culture producs authoritarianism ideas and fatalism resulting in reducing people’s political sensitivity.Patronage tradition evolved from initial dominant political system to hidden political culture under constitutional monarchy. Small and medium parties built on basis of patronage tradition utilized advantage of capital to intervene elections causing bribery and corruption. Thaksin faction leveraged local tyrannical business groups to achieve political rise by using patronage platform. Powerful rich family used patronage family advantage to get more political power.Authoritarianism originates from theocratic principle, paternalism and royal worship. People worship authoritarianism makes strong status od royal family and military group. Authoritarianism is conducive to establish stable status of technocratic class.Thai political culture tends to authoritarianism and patronage. Many thai people worship both democracy and authority which led to a dilemma of embarrassing situation. Democracy system should match with political culture accordingly. Political culture has important impact on establishing national political system. Only with political system and development model which matches with own political culture, the country can get healthier development.