Political Role of Military Leaders towards the Access to Power: Case study of Prime Minister General Sujinda Kraprayun and Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha

Abstract

        This research was qualitative research aimed to 1) analyze the style of political leaders and the political role model of Prime Minister General Sujinda Kraprayun and Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, and their rise to power, 2) analyze the factors influencing political role and encourage the military leaders of Prime Minister General Sujinda Kraprayun and Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to seize power by political intervention and successful rise to power, and 3) analyze the impacts of the rising to power of military leaders towards democratization. This research emphasized documentary research and an in-depth interview with 11 key informants selected by purposive sampling and used a structured open-ended interview. In addition, data analysis applied a comparative analysis, subject to two case studies of Prime Minister General Sujinda Kraprayun seizing power on 23 February 1991 and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha seizing power on 22 May 2014.

        The research found that the style of Prime Minister General Sujinda Kraprayun was the same as Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha since their seized power. However, after success in the coup d’etat, Prime Minister General Sujinda Kraprayun acted as a guardian and became the ruler once promoted. According to the case of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, after access to power, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha acted as the ruler. 

In addition, the research investigated that factors influencing the political role of Prime Minister General Sujinda Kraprayun and Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha were 1) political targets, 2) situation assessment ability, and 3) political resources. Furthermore, the factors that encouraged the military leaders of Prime Minister General Sujinda Kraprayun and Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to seize power by political intervention and successful rise to power were 1) the weaker social structure, 2) the stronger military organization, and 3) deprive of military power in the military organization. Finally, the research also proved the impacts of the rising to power of military leaders on democratization in three dimensions consists of political, economic, and social. In the political dimension, the research disclosed both positive and negative impacts. Regarding positive, the rise to power of military leaders encourages civilians for democratic political awakening, in contrast to negative impacts that are reversing Thai democracy to a stage of authoritarian dictatorship and lacking political ability. Furthermore, in the economic dimension, the rise to power of military leaders affects economic inequality, and interruption of economic development. In the social dimension, the rise to power of military leaders raises social problems and inaccessibility to state welfare. The research also suggested that civilians should promote democracy stability, legitimacy of institutions, and public political participation.