An Analysis of the Impacts on Local Administration under the Decentralization Policy of the Government of General Prayuth Chan-o-cha

Abstract

               This research article, An Analysis of the Impacts on Local Administration under the Decentralization Policy of the Government of General Prayuth Chan-o-cha, has three objectives: (1) to study and analyze the decentralization policy during the administration of General Prayuth Chan-o-cha, (2) to examine its impacts on the operations of local administrative organizations (LAOs), and (3) to propose appropriate approaches for achieving successful and sustainable decentralization. This study employed a qualitative research design based on document analysis and in-depth interviews.
               The findings reveal that the decentralization policy of this period did not genuinely reflect the principles of decentralization but rather demonstrated a centralized approach dominated by the state bureaucracy. This was particularly evident in the control over local elections, the appointment of executives by the central government, and the supervision of budgetary spending. As a result, LAOs lost their autonomy in administration and policymaking, which led to a decline in citizen participation and weakened mechanisms of checks and balances.
               The impacts on LAOs included the suspension of elections and the appointment of executives by the central government, thereby reducing autonomy and responsiveness to public needs. Centralized control over budgets and public service projects restricted flexibility and efficiency, while limitations on personnel management affected the quality and effectiveness of service delivery. Moreover, central interventions in specific sectors, such as public transportation, constrained the strategic decision-making capacity of LAOs. The restricted legal personality of local authorities further diminished their ability to plan and implement projects tailored to local contexts.
               For decentralization to succeed and become sustainable, policies should focus on the genuine transfer of decision-making authority, sufficient allocation of budgets and resources, the development of capable personnel, the establishment of mechanisms for accountability and citizen participation, and the creation of a balanced relationship between central and local governments.