The Evolution of Establishing Special Local Government in Thailand

Abstract

This research aimed to study the evolution of establishing special local government in Thailand by comparing the types of special local government for the period 1972 to 2013 which are divided into two periods: the first period between 1972 and 1985, and the other one between 2009 and 2013. The qualitative research methodology was employed with document study. This research found that the two periods of the evolution tried to design and develop the special local governments based on their potential criteria for their areas: economic growth, increased population density, and increased public problems. That is, the first and second periods focused on developing administrative and board appointment systems as well as increasing responsibilities and having more revenue sources than the normal types of local government. However, the efforts of having more responsibilities and revenue sources were not successful. The research suggested that the efforts of establishing special local government should focus on developing and empowering the responsibilities and revenue sources in the normal types (municipality and provincial administrative organization) instead of creating the new type of local government. Because the general types of local government have been developed since the occurrence of decentralization, they have more administrative potentials and experiences to develop their social and economic growth than the new one.