Thailand is a parliamentary democracy. The King is head of state. Despite his position as a constitutional monarch, he has immense personal prestige. Criticism of the King is not tolerated.
Main Political Issues
The militaryûdemocratic cycle
Thailand has been ruled by alternating military and civilian governments since 1932. When pro-military parties chose an unelected army general as prime minister in 1992, there were large demonstrations in Bangkok. The army's heavy-handed attempts to suppress them led to the King's personal intervention. He ordered General Suchinda to step down and the constitution was amended. It now states that any prime minister must be an elected member of parliament. Since then, the military has been subdued. The moderate DP and its allies won the elections in 1992, prompting hopes that the militaryû civilian cycle has been broken.
Congestion in Bangkok
A major issue is the concentration of industry and commerce in the Bangkok area. Uncontrolled development has left it with traffic congestion that is among the world's worst and a serious hindrance to economic activity. Bangkok is also one of the world's few major cities without a mass transit system. However, an elevated highway to the airport is nearing completion and agreement has been reached on a skytrain. In 1993, the government began offering incentives for relocating industry to the provinces. This is also intended to help distribute wealth more evenly û up to 60% of GDP is generated in the Bangkok area.
Water
The national water shortage, caused by rapid industrialization, is so acute that it is affecting industrial and farm output.
Profile
The Thai political process is highly personalized. Parties are focused on individuals, who dispense patronage or represent business interest groups, and seldom have strong ideologies. Due to the large number of parties, it is rare for one party to achieve a parliamentary majority. Personality clashes are common and often make coalitions unstable. Lack of coordination between coalition partners hinders major policy decisions, notably on improvements to Bangkok's transportation.
The Senate is heavily pro-military, although in 1992 its powers were curtailed; retired military figures are prominent in most political parties. Communists are no longer a political force. The only internal threat, barring a new military coup, is from Muslim separatists in the south.
