Thailand's Uneven Democratic History Continues
As the Thai government and opposition protesters move toward a reconciliation agreement, attention will shift to plans for elections. The protesters, dressed in red, say democracy was stolen from them. But just a few years ago, yellow-dressed protesters were trying to remove red-supported leaders they said had corrupted democratic institutions. Political analysts say despite the rhetoric, both groups fall short of democratic ideals.
Thailand has a patchy history with democracy.
Since becoming a constitutional monarchy in 1932, the country has fluctuated between elected, appointed, and military governments. The military has spent the most time in charge.
There have been 18 coups or attempted coups.
"The reason we've seen so many coups throughout the decades is that bureaucratic cliques have competed for control of the state," said Michael Montesano, a researcher at the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. "The most powerful bureaucratic cliques were cliques of soldiers. The reason they were most powerful is that they had the guns. And, most coups in Thai history have been a matter of competition between cliques in the Thai army vying for power."
Most of the red-shirted protesters now on Bangkok's streets follow a group called the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship.
UDD leaders say it is a working-class movement opposed to the military and urban elite, which they say robbed the majority of the right to elect political leaders.
A coup in 2006 forced the red shirt patron, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, out of office. He lives in exile to avoid a jail sentence for corruption.
For nearly two months the reds have blocked off a central commercial district, demanding elections. Deadly clashes with security forces have scared away tourists, damaging the economy....
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Thailand has a patchy history with democracy.
Since becoming a constitutional monarchy in 1932, the country has fluctuated between elected, appointed, and military governments. The military has spent the most time in charge.
There have been 18 coups or attempted coups.
"The reason we've seen so many coups throughout the decades is that bureaucratic cliques have competed for control of the state," said Michael Montesano, a researcher at the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. "The most powerful bureaucratic cliques were cliques of soldiers. The reason they were most powerful is that they had the guns. And, most coups in Thai history have been a matter of competition between cliques in the Thai army vying for power."
Most of the red-shirted protesters now on Bangkok's streets follow a group called the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship.
UDD leaders say it is a working-class movement opposed to the military and urban elite, which they say robbed the majority of the right to elect political leaders.
A coup in 2006 forced the red shirt patron, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, out of office. He lives in exile to avoid a jail sentence for corruption.
For nearly two months the reds have blocked off a central commercial district, demanding elections. Deadly clashes with security forces have scared away tourists, damaging the economy....