Debating ‘Governance’ in Thailand through Research and Higher Education Programs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61462/cujss.v53i2.1780Keywords:
Governance, Good Governance, Research, Higher Education Program, Public AdministrationAbstract
Since the 1990s, ‘governance’ has been a contested academic term in Thai society due to its diverse translations and definitions, as well as its politically selective use based on certain definitions of governance. The purpose of this research article is to review and analyze the state of governance knowledge in Thailand's major research databases and higher education programs. The study employed qualitative methods, such as document analysis, in-depth interviews, and a brainstorming session. The findings indicate that governance research and instruction in Thailand have heavily emphasized the ‘good governance’ aspect or concept, which has been primarily implemented in public administration in accordance with the New Public Management (NPM) theory. This has resulted in the vicious circle of governance knowledge, in which the knowledge is constrained or reduced to ‘good governance principles’ and incorporated into the creation, teaching, and reproduction of the knowledge by academic institutions and public sector organizations. The lack of alternative versions of governance knowledge or the neglect of alternative knowledge in public sector practices is reflected by designing policies, plans, and procedures using only this version of the knowledge. Consequently, knowledge generation and research development on governance are affected. Knowledge of governance beyond ‘good governance’ is rendered unnecessary and lost.
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