Monarch, monarchy, succession and stability in Thailand

Abstract

Abstract: Many in Thailand have begun to worry about the future, when a new monarch will reign. There is fear that without the wise use of informal royal influence, Thailand may not be able to resolve future crises without major conflict. There have thus been attempts to re-engineer the political system to increase stability, at the expense of democracy and participation. Yet, of the many achievements of King Bhumibol, perhaps the most overlooked has been his strengthening of the institutions of the monarchy. In this article, I will argue that the institutions of the monarchy have been greatly strengthened in the last four decades. Although the current monarch came to the throne with little institutional support, any future monarch will come to the throne with the assistance of large numbers of personnel, a stable budget and a council of powerful and experienced advisors. The informal role of the monarch in supporting democracy has also been shared, to some degree, with a larger and more influential privy council, and especially with its president. Consequently, future monarchical succession should see considerable continuity and stability. Such preparations make the sacrifice of democracy in pursuit of stability unnecessary and unfortunate.