The Political Economy of Telecommunicatons Reforms in Thailand

by Niyomsilpa; Sakkarin

• ISBN13: 9781855675414
• ISBN10: 1855675412
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-01-11
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

A study of the changing character of state-society relations in contemporary Thailand, using the telecommunications industry as a case study. It examines the privatization and gradual reforms of the 1980s and 1990s and the political dynamics behind these policies, as well as conflicts and co-operation among the various players and their interests. The book also covers bureaucratic and political corruption and their implications for Thailand's political democratization and economic liberalization. It argues not only that the bureaucracy is no longer the dominant power in Thai politics, but also that the country has moved towards a more pluralistic socio-political system in which a broadly-based liberalization coalition has emerged.

Author Biography

Sakkarin Niyomsilpa is First Secretary at the Mission of Thailand to the European Communities, Brussels.

Table of Contents

List of Figures	p. vii
List of Tables	p. viii
Preface	p. ix
Abbreviations and Glossary	p. xi
Introduction	p. 1
Telecommunications and contending interpretations of the Thai political system	p. 21
The politics of regulatory reform: the first phase	p. 48
The politics of regulatory reform: the second phase	p. 89
Telecommunications and political corruption	p. 134
Telecommunications concessions: politics and politicking	p. 168
Conclusion	p. 205
Appendices
Summary of the major drawbacks of the first draft contract with CP	p. 215
Summary of the World Bank report on the telephone project	p. 218
Selected Bibliography	p. 220
Index	p. 233
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.