Thailand’s domestic politics needs revival to spark economy, regional influence

Synopsis: The Straits Times’ global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests.

Thailand, once seen as a rising middle power, is now stuck in political and economic stagnation that are affecting its international standing. Its years of political turmoil had caused its economy to underperform, with GDP growing by 1.9 per cent in 2023.

While economists expect around GDP growth at 2.7 per cent in 2024 and 2.9 per cent in 2025 – the growth is inadequate to satisfy demands and expectations.

Thailand is currently under the relatively new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 38-year-old daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. But its “old guard” institutions have not allowed the country to progress politically, which are controlling political outcomes through agencies like the constitutional court, the election commission, the anti-corruption commission and the Senate, says Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a senior fellow of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s international standing has diminished – though the country’s size and geographic location mean it remains a key player in the region. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is also divided on contentious issues such as the ongoing civil war in Myanmar.

As Malaysia will be heading Asean in 2025, its PM Anwar Ibrahim has apppointed former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin as an informal advisor. But a younger generation should lead it foward instead of the older generation, says Professor Thitinan, who is currently a visiting professor as well at the London School of Economics, in this episode with host Nirmal Ghosh.

Highlights (click/tap above):

6:02 How the military coup in May 2014 ‘sank’ Thailand

10:29 Thailand lost out on tech revolutions like AI

15:07 Why Asean is currently at its weakest

19:22 How Thailand can play a regional role in the Myanmar crisis, and curb transnational crimes like scams

21:39 Msia PM Anwar picks Thaksin Shinawatra as informal Asean adviser

Host: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Lynda Hong

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