Democracy in Asia: Its History, Variants and Purpose with Ajarn Ployjai Pintobtang, Part 2 [S6.E51]

This is part two of a two-part interview with Khun Ployjai
Pintobtang, a lecturer in history at Chiang Mai University, about
the history of democracy in Thailand and Asia. The discussion
picks up where it left off, on the particular characteristics of
Thai culture and society that might make it harder for democracy
to take root. Greg begins by bringing up Ed's frequent point that
there's essentially an 'official' Thailand, how Thai elites
describe their country, that is often at odds with what everyone
knows is really happening in the country. Ed furthers the point
that almost all Thai elites will give the 'right answer': we want
'real' democracy in Thailand, but then the very same elites go on
to enact anti-democratic Constitutions. 


A. Ploy concurs with these assessments and notes the difficulty
as a Thai person in remaining optimistic given the apparently
cyclical nature of Thai politics, where the government comes
close to being truly democratic, only to fall back down into true
authoritarianism due some 'crisis' or another. A. Ed asks whether
there is anything in the current political crisis that gives
hope, and A. Ploy makes several points. The victory of Move
Forward in the north of Thailand, the Pheu Thai stronghold, was
unprecedented in the last 25 years. Also, the fact that Move
Forward's base is made up of the Bangkok middle class and above,
yet is pushing for truly progressive reforms, is a first in Thai
history.


However, reasons for pessimism exist as well. A. Ploy argues that
no true change can happen until the current Constitution is
seriously amended, which will be difficult to do given the
current makeup of the Senate. She also notes that the next Prime
Minister will likely be from the Pheu Thai Party, and there's no
guarantee that Pheu Thai will really fight for the reformist
agenda of the Move Forward Party now that K. Pita's bid is
finished. 


All three participants agree there are many more issues to
discuss, and undoubtedly more drama is to come on the Thai
political scene. Hence, a return visit for A. Ploy to the podcast
is likely!


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