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Corruption, Morality, and the Politics of Reform in T hailand
Author(s) -
Sinpeng Aim
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
asian politics and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.193
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1943-0787
pISSN - 1943-0779
DOI - 10.1111/aspp.12139
Subject(s) - morality , constitution , opposition (politics) , democracy , politics , language change , alliance , nationalism , political science , political economy , political corruption , modernization theory , sociology , public administration , law , art , literature
Corruption has been the single most cited reason for the seizure of power from governments in Thailand. Yet few studies on corruption in Thailand have problematized the term “corruption” despite it being repeatedly used to legitimize the overthrow of government. This article examines the discourse on corruption of the reform movements between the two coup d'états in Thailand in 1991 and 2006. I focus on the reform efforts that culminated in the 1997 constitution and those that culminated in establishment of the opposition movement, the People's Alliance for Democracy ( PAD ). I argue that the PAD 's conception of corruption was intertwined with the notions of morality, nationalism, and royalism, which differed from what was envisioned in the 1997 constitution. They were thus not satisfied with the outcomes of reforms and resorted to overthrowing the democratic system altogether.