The Role of Thai Political Interest Groups: A Case Study of Multi-Level Marketing Business Operators in the Demand for Public Policies from 2002 to 2023

Abstract

In this dissertation, the researcher examines: 1) the development of multi-level marketing business in Thailand in each period of Thai Political from 2002 to 2023; investigates 2) the players of the public agencies, the laws, and the Policies concerned with multi-level marketing (MLM) in the period studied; and studies 3) the structural interactions of related players in the period under study. The technique of qualitative research was employed. Data were collected using the technique of in-dept interview with sixteen concerned qualified persons. Data were analyzed using content analysis.

Finding are as follows: 1) The study of the development of the MLM interest groups in the period studied found the following. (1) interest groups were established to raise the level of MLM to be with correct good governance. (2) Interest groups were established to mobilize the las to be in consonance with businesses. (3) Interest groups were established for the coordination with the public agencies. (4) Interest groups were established with the need for the public agencies to deal with illegal businesses. 2) The study of the roles of the players of the public agencies, the laws, and the public policies concerned with the MLM business groups in the period studied found the following. The roles of the interest groups as players with major demands established by the MLM interest group associations and other organizations consisted of the following: (1) the laws; (2) the resistance to Ponzi Schemes; (3) the mobilization of public policies; and (4) the raising of the standards of the professional qualifications needed for direct sales and multi-level marketing. 3) Interactions between the MLM interest groups and the public agencies and the concerned public policies in the period studied found the following. (1) The interactions between the associations were not tight, lacking unity and serious cooperation. (2) The interactions between the associations and the organizations showed that they did not exhibit direct interactions. However, companies under the association secretly supported the organizations. (3) The interactions between the associations and the public agencies were at a certain period of time dependent on the policies of the Secretariat of the Consumer Protection Board.