The Thai Constitution-Making Process: A Constitutionalism Perspective
Abstract
This study examines the challenges in the Thai constitution-making process from a constitutionalism perspective. Employing a qualitative research approach, we analyzed 20 processes of drafting the Thai constitution from secondary documents, comparing past and present processes. Our analysis is grounded in the concept of constitutionalism, which comprises four key criteria: the legality of the constitution-making process, the constitution-making organization, the role of political representatives, and public participation. The findings indicate that the Thai constitution-making process is largely inconsistent with constitutionalism principles, with most processes originating from coups or their continuations. Although recent efforts have improved the process's form, only 3-5 processes meet the constitutionalism criteria. The lack of public participation in the constitution-making process has resulted in a constitution lacking political equity, negatively impacting Thailand's democratic system stability and contributing to ongoing political crises.
Keywords: Constitutional process, Thailand, Constitutionalism, Thailand's democratic system.
Full Text:
PDFReferences
BAZERGAN, R. (2019). National dialogs in political transitions. UN internal research paper.
BERGHOF FOUNDATION & UNITED NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AND PEACEBUILDING AFFAIRS. (2020). Constitution and peace processes: A primer. Berlin: Berghof Foundation.
K. Chaiyanakij (2019). Evolution of constitutionalism in Thailand: Historical perspectives and current challenges. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies.
A. CroISSANT and J. HAYNES (2020). Democratic regression in Asia: introduction. Democratization, 28(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2020.1851203
L. DIAMOND. (1999). Developing democracy: Toward consolidation. Johns Hopkins University Press.
B. Rezese and K. TostakuLRUNGRUANG (2019). Colored judgements? The work of the Thai constitutional court, 1998–2016. Journal of Contemporary Asia, 49(1), 1-23.
T. Hinsberg and Z. ELKINS (2020). Comparative constitutional design: Lessons for Thailand. Comparative Constitutionalism: Cases and Materials. Cambridge University Press.
K. Hewison (2018). Thailand: An old relationship renewed. The Pacific Review, 31(1), 116–130.
HUDSON, A. (2021). Political parties and public participation in constitution-making: Legitimation, distraction, or real influence? Comparative Politics, 53(3), 501–524. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27090038
P. A. Kew-NGAM, P. (2024). A discursive analysis of Thailand’s constitution’s preambles: A political language and the construction of Thai political ‘truth’. Asian Crime and Society Review, 11(2), 11–20. https://doi.org/10.14456/acsr.2024.9
MCARGO, D. (2020). Controversies in the Thai constitutional process: Resistance and resilience. Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, 6(2), 123-145.
MÉRIEAU, E. (2021). Constitutional bricolage: Thailand’s sacred monarchy vs. the rule of law. Hart Publishing.
NEGRETTO, G. L. (2016). Constitution-making in comparative perspective. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. New York: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.66
NEGRETTO, G. L. (2018). Democratic constitution-making bodies: The perils of a partizan convention. International Journal of Comparative Law, 16(1), 254–279. https://doi.org/10.1093/icon/moy003
P. Pansak. (2021). Youth movements and the future of Thai democracy: A new wave of activism. Asian Journal of Political Science, 27(2), 150-168.
PHONGPAICHIT, P., & BAKER, C. (2017). Culture, society, and the Thai constitution: The role of Buddhism and monarchy. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 48(1), 34-56.
PONGSAK, R. (2020). Public participation in Thai constitutionalism: Lessons from the 2017 drafting process. Thai Journal of Political Science.
RÜLAND, J., & SRISANG, T. (2018). Political actors in Thai constitution-making: The role of the military and civil society. Asian Political Science Review, 16(1), 67-90.
SAICHOL, K. (2021). Civil society and the constitution-making process in Thailand: Opportunities and challenges. Asian Journal of Comparative Law.
SAUNDERS, C. A. (2013). Constitutional making in the 21st century. International Review of Law, 4. University of Melbourne Legal Studies Research Paper No. 630. Available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2252294
SUKSAKORN, P. (2015). The historical evolution of Thai constitutional law. Journal of Asian Legal Studies, 5(2), 101-120.
TIERNEY, S. (2016). Should the people decide? Referendums in a post-sovereign age: The Scottish and Catalonian cases. Netherlands Journal of Legal Philosophy, 2, 99–118.
TONSAKULRUNGRUANG, K. (2022). Thai Constitutions as a battleground for political authority: Barami versus Vox Populi. In T. Ginsburg and B. Schonthal (Eds.), Buddhism and Comparative Constitutional Law (pp. 161–180). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
WATANABE, T. (2019). Public consultation on Thai constitutional revisions: An evaluation of processes and outcomes. Southeast Asian Studies, 7(3), 45-68.
WOLFRUM, H. C. R. Wolfrum, T. Elkhoury, B. Guthrie, D. (2021). Constitution-making bodies: Rules of procedure. Heidelberg: Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law.
WORACHET, P. (2019). The 2017 constitution of Thailand: A step back for democracy. Journal of Asian Studies, 78(2), 285-304.
ZULUETA-FÜLSCHER, K., & BISARYA, S. (2018). (S)electing constitution-making bodies in fragile and conflict-affected settings: International IDEA Policy Paper No. 16. Stockholm: International IDEA.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.