‘Trump phenomenon’ could be a lesson for Thailand: academics

“Democracy is the US’s core. It’s a regime of the establishment and thus its stronghold,” said Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee, a political scientist from Chulalongkorn University.
Academics suggested Thailand could learn lessons from the Western political turmoil about democratic values amid the politically limited environment domestically.
For instance, Siripan said requirements for holders of prominent political offices – such as requiring public debates or holding election primaries – could significantly engage the public in the political arena.
Thanet Aphornsuvan, an expert in US studies from Thammasat University, said the bizarre “Trump phenomenon” emerged because the United States had lost faith in its own stability, as was implied by Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again”.
Evidence of Trump’s harsh personality and blunt policies had earned him many critics, but he prevailed to the final round “because he said what people, especially those in remote areas of the US, wanted to hear”, Thanet said. 
“And his experience in reality shows also taught him what to do,” the academic said, referring to Trump’s stint as host of the reality TV show “The Apprentice”.
However, Thanet added, that experience did not qualify Trump to make policy changes. “Given he is a novice in the political arena, that is unlikely. 
“Americans only want to see something new, some alternative from traditional politics that have played for decades in the US.
“The Trump phenomenon reveals certain sets of values and beliefs in American society that have been barely brought up,” he said. 
“What will matter is whether Trump can introduce the rest of the US to this reality and mould the whole country accordingly.”
That scenario could be comparable to what Thailand will face in the next general election, given voters’ shaken trust in their country’s own stability following more than a decade of crises and two coups, he said. 
“With a different context, we can still say that Thais too are fed up with politics,” he said. 
“Who knows, it could be time for some new, blunt faces.”
Pranee Thiparat, another US expert from Chulalongkorn University, said the Trump phenomenon was an unimpressive trend but Americans should not be blamed for its emergence. 
“It is not only the US, but also the rest of the world, where people choose to only hear things that suit their preferences,” she said. 
“Many already made choices in their minds long ago, which they won’t change. It is rather the Republican Party’s fault for underestimating Trump’s force,” she said. 
“Also Republicans have in the past failed to promote the value of conservatism, leaving them few choices but to turn to Trump to attract fans again,” she said.
Trump threatens the public on everything from Syrian extremists to the North American Free Trade Agreement – claiming that the latter significantly harmed US employment rates, when in reality the agreement barely affected employment, Pranee said. 
“He’s a big liar, in short,” she said.