To end corruption, we have to trust our politicians

I fully agree with Boonwara Sumano of the Thailand Development Research Institute that countries can become trapped by corruption, mainly due to lack of trust in politicians. She concludes, “Unless there is a change that induces people to have confidence in politicians and democracy, there is no exit from the corruption trap.” Bill Clinton would agree with her. “The central tenet of every democracy in the end is trust,” he once said.

I suggest that, to begin trusting politicians and democracy, voters must be consistently politically informed and active in keeping with former prime minister Anand Panyarachun’s 7 Pillars of Sustainable Democracy – elections, political tolerance, the rule of law, freedom of expression, accountability and transparency, decentralisation and civil society. 

For example, before the question of Scottish independence was put to the vote, the issues were fully discussed nationally – lawfully, freely and with tolerance – and embraced the views of civil groups, universities and professional associations. Informed voters cast well-considered ballots, the politicians (including the losers) accepted the result as reflecting the will of the populace, and Scots of all political persuasions proceeded to work together to fulfil the national will. Let’s learn from the Scots and build a strong, credible democracy.

Burin Kantabutra