Freedom without choice: Patron-clientelism and the evolution of Thai politics (1782--1992)

This dissertation systematically analyzes the parallel evolution of patron-clientelism and Thai politics throughout the four major periods: Traditional Thailand (1782--1851), Transitional Thailand (1868--1910), Despotic Paternalism (1959--1973), and Demi Democracy (1980--1992). Distinct from the mainstream research of the dual political-economic approach, this dissertation pursues a holistic approach. It methodically integrates the analysis of the political, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of Thai society to provide a comprehensive insight into the development of Thai democracy. This multi-dimensional dissertation provides both a background and the tools with which to identify and explicate reasons for which political participation has been neither a meaningful means to further democracy-building nor an occasion to form greater class cohesion and cooperation in Thailand.;The structural analyses of the four periods indicate biased structural development in favor of the ruling class. Throughout the four periods, elite of emerging social forces (i.e. military leaders, civil bureaucrats, and businessmen) had been absorbed as new members of the ruling class rather than becoming their counterparts. As a consequence, the top-down political chain of command was perpetuated and the patron-clientelism persisted as the modus operandi of Thai politics. Circumstantial analyses of the four periods reveal instances of serendipitous situations for the myth of ideal leadership within which a strong yet benevolent ruler reigns over the kingdom. Repeated successes of Thai leaders in wielding both external threats such as that of colonization and internal threats such as that of communism sustained the popular attitude that governance and politics are best left in the hands of the elite. In effect, Thai people either remained apolitical or assumed a politically passive role of obedient and loyal clients to politicians and members of the ruling elite. Induced by both biased structure and serendipitous circumstances, patron-clientelism had evolved parallel to the development of Thai politics throughout the four periods, yielding a free society, which for the sake of individual security abdicated its right to choose. It is a classic case of freedom without choice.