Deliberative Democracy in Thai Local Community: Experience from Fieldwork

Abstract

After conducting fieldwork, the researcher found that deliberative democracy in the case study area is different from deliberative democracy in the Western context. The reason is that communication action in the public sphere in the form of “Coffeehouse Forum” is not a consensus discussion through a process of reasoning. On the other hand, it is more like the practice to “confide, share ideas and seek solutions together” among local elites. But at the same time, this is an unofficial public sphere and they have no intention of seeking political power. However, the outcomes have become political obligation and related organizations must act accordingly.