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The modern political process in Thailand has been variably described as a "patronage system," a "semi-democracy,"1 or a "Buddhist democracy." Buddhist attitudes and practices have been invoked to support the traditional system, as they have been to call for reforms of the traditional system. Recent years have seen rapid, significant political changes and movements for a democratization that goes beyond "semi-democracy" and dismantles patronage. There also have been changes in the relation of politics to religion, while at the same time many changes reflect, and are, in part, influenced by religion.2
The following first examines widespread Thai attitudes (which also could be called Thai Buddhist attitudes) toward the key democratic concept of the rule of law, and contrasts this with a common Western interpretation. A clearer standard of the rule of law has been one of the distinguishing marks of the latest constitutional reforms in Thailand. After these theoretical considerations, the essay turns to a description of some recent reforms with a view to how these show an affinity with Buddhist attitudes and principles.
It will be seen that, while religion as one traditional basis for the legitimation of political power has been eroded, religion as a standard for cultural reform accompanying political reforms is as pronounced as ever, and that this political culture contributes to the understanding of Thai democracy, the kinds of democratic reforms that have been undertaken, and the ways in which they are applied.
Contemporary reforms have been initiated in the name of eliminating corruption, developing civil society, transparency, decentralization, and democratization. In the East, "democratization" is a topic that has caught the attention of the public sphere as much as "democracy" has in the West. However, the very core concepts which warm the democratic passions of the West tend, more often than not, to leave the East cold and indifferent. So, for example, while bills of rights have become pro forma a standard part of constitutions around the world, the question of rights often is not received as an essential political issue even by Asian activists. Societies that perceive themselves and are perceived by others to be undergoing important and historical developments of democratization may hold a very different understanding from the others as to what the meaning and importance...