The Dynamics of Thai Political Parties under the 1974 Constitutional Regime

Abstract

This article aims to examine the dynamics and the roles of Thai political parties under the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, B.E. 2517 (1974), which serves as a significant landmark for liberal democracy following the October 14, 1973 uprising. The primary objective of this study is to examine the paradox between the constitutional intent to institutionalize political parties by mandating party affiliation for politicians and the practical instability of the government. This is achieved by linking the relationship between legal provisions and the political behavior of actors. The findings reveal that this constitution catalyzed a surge in political party activity characterized by one of the highest levels of ideological diversity in Thai political history. However, an electoral system conducive to a multi-party system imposed constraints on national administration, resulting in fragile coalition governments and intense interest bargaining. This suggests that while the dynamics of political parties during this era marked a crucial step toward popular representation, the executive’s lack of stability, compounded by ideological conflicts during the Cold War, created the conditions that led to the collapse of the democratic regime under this constitution during the October 6, 1976 massacre. Ultimately, these lessons remain a fundamental basis for understanding the design of legislative-executive relations in contemporary Thailand.