Evolving power of provincial political families in Thailand

Abstract

The relative newness of political dynasties in Thai society is often forgotten by scholars and observers. The majority of Thai political clans entered politics only after the 1973 student uprising. Their time in politics is also relatively short – only half of them managed to stay in power for more than two legislative terms. Historically, their instability was caused by frequent military coups, which interrupted the parliamentary institutions and electoral process. By the time they had succeeded in climbing to the top in the late 1990s, the political and economic landscape had been transformed in a way that seriously reduced their power. Tumultuous ideological conflict and the rise of mass movement after the 2006 military coup have further diminished the status and power of old political clans. This article traces the historical developments and the patterns of accumulation of the wealth and power of Thai political dynasties and explains how some families have been able to maintain their power while many others have failed.