The Changes in the Political Role of the Royal Thai Armed Forces from 1992 to 2020

Abstract

          The objective of this article was to study the factors affecting the changes in the political role of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the development of the political role of the Royal Thai Armed Forces from 1992 to 2020. The study was conducted through interviews with former senior military officers and experts in the civil sector. The results revealed that the development of the political role of the Royal Thai Armed Forces used to be in a recession and also gained the highest popularity based on social attitudes towards the military in different political events, which affected the awareness of the military leaders in making political attitudes and decisions. Due to the fact that the military was more socially credible than other political institutions, the military had usually been drawn into the political sphere; moreover, it is likely that the Royal Thai Armed Forces could maintain and expand its political role so far. The factors affecting the changes in the political role of the Royal Thai Armed Forces from 1992 to 2020 consisted of (1) the factors regarding Thai Constitution, (2) the security factors and (3) the civil politics factors. These three factors facilitated the Royal Thai Armed Forces to change the roles harmoniously and gain legitimacy as the one who controlled and regulated Thai politics for a long time.