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KPI Congress 20th
32
2018
Thai Democracy on the Move

Group 3: Decentralization as a Foundation for Democracy

Decentralization is considered the heart of democracy because

decision-making and resources are given to the local people. Decentralized
authority can also be seen as a school to teach people about democracy

and how to govern themselves. The local people earn an opportunity
to elect their own representatives, recruit the leaders of the local

administration, and participate in decision-making. For example, the
local people can exercise their right to propose public policy measures

in matters that affect their well-being and inspect any suspicious exercise
of administrative authority.

The development of Thai decentralization began clearly after

the revolution in the reign of King Prajadhipok. It was expected that

the people of Thailand would recognize local government through the
establishment of municipalities. Nevertheless, very little progress was made
toward decentralization until the political reforms of 1997. Since then,

decentralization has nominally become a key principle of the country

with decentralization mandates stated in the 2007 and 2017 constitutions.
Decentralization to the development of local government is still in
progress, although the transfer of missions, personnel, and budget to local

governments has been slow and halting over the past two decades.

King Prajadhipok’s Institute, as an academic institution with
a mission to develop knowledge to promote decentralization to local

governments, has conducted a survey of Thai decentralization over the

past two decades, analyzing the future direction under new challenges.
The survey was conducted as a comparative study with the collaboration
of partner institutions in the Philippines and Indonesia, bringing an

international dimension to the lessons that may be drawn. Both these countries
หลักการและก�าหนดการ The knowledge will be applied to promote and strengthen decentralization
apply decentralization as a mechanism for democratic development.

in Thailand as the foundation for democratic development.