What Western-style democracy for Thailand?
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Expectations abound that Thailand will face embarrassment later this month at the United Nations over the slow pace of its transition to democracy.
I wonder if Saudi Arabia and China will also be making excuses for not reaching “instant democracy”, as demanded of Thailand.
What exactly do the American, British and Australian governments (not forgetting the holier-than-thou expat writers to this column) wish upon Thailand? Perhaps it is the American model, as described in a study cited by the Washington Times on April 21, 2014:
“America is no longer a democracy – never mind the democratic republic envisioned by the Founding Fathers. Rather, it has taken a turn down elitist lane and become a country led by a small dominant class comprised of powerful members who exert total control over the general population – an oligarchy, said a new study jointly conducted by Princeton and Northwestern universities.”
What if Thailand has already been there, done that?
Thomas Turk
