Comparative Democratic Transitions: Derived Thoughts on the Failures of Democratic Transition in Thailand
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61462/cujss.v48i2.745Keywords:
consolidated democracy, comparative method, institutional design, Third wave of democratization, ThailandAbstract
By employing a comparative method known as the “most-different method” to provide a factual overview of democratic transitions in South Korea, Indonesia, Argentina, Chile, Tunisia, Nigeria, Ukraine and Poland, the paper shows some common traits in third-wave democratic transitions, namely: 1. Social inclusiveness and a willingness to compromise among the democratically oriented oppositions; 2. Leaders who possess long-term visions with genuine intentions and strong commitments to lay a foundation for the establishment of democracies; 3. Public consensus on both the process and substance of constitutional reform for democratization; 4. Civilian control of the military; and 5. Holding election promptly. Accordingly, democratic transitions in Thailand have failed for the following reasons; the opposition forces’ inability to unite; the apparent absence of elected political officials and social elites who are committed to prepare the ground for democratic transition; the lack of public consensus on constitutional reform, both in the substances and the process, the dominance of the military over the civilian government; and finally, elections are not viewed as a mechanism to resolve political crises or to enable transfer of power, both of which are basic to democratic transition.
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