Even with the economic ascendancy, why is Thailand’s democracy going backwards?

Thailand is arguably Southeast Asia’s leading economic powerhouse. Cities burst with commerce goods and industries thrive and its middle class expands in immense numbers. However, its political trajectory tells a very different story.

Fragile Political Stability

Thailand’s political stability was proven fragile in 2019 when the return to democracy was derailed by royal intervention. Legitimately elected prime minister Princess Ubolratana’s candidacy was disqualified and was given to Prayut Chan-o-cha, the former leader of the military coup that happened back in 2014. This episode shows that although elections were held, the military’s manipulation remains strong within the political system. Representing the democratic institutions under pressure from the military and mainly the monarchy. The East Asia Forum warned that the nomination of General Prayut Chan-o-cha raises serious conflict between interests. It is easily noticeable that the initial promise to restore democracy made by the military coup government was not being held. The episode underscored how Thailand’s democratic process was vulnerable to manipulation, even as the country prepared to host ASEAN meetings and project itself as a regional leader.

This irony shows a theory that economic growth doesn’t automatically strengthen democracy. Dahl’s concept of polyarchy shows that democracy is about more than economic prosperity. It also depends on having institutions that hold leaders accountable (Dahl, 1972). Thailand’s case shows how economic ascendancy can coexist with democratic erosion.

Judicialization and Legal repression.

People would normally believe that the court and the justice system are the gatekeepers of democracy. However, in the case of Thailand, the court and laws are the central tools of rollback. Freedom House (2024) notes that judicial rulings have repeatedly disbanded opposing parties. And to quote Human Rights Watch, “Making critical or offensive comments about the monarchy is also a serious criminal offense under section 14 of the Computer-Related Crime Act. Thai authorities have also used sedition charges to prosecute over 150 democracy activists and dissidents.” (Human Rights Watch, 2026) shows the process by which legal power is used to support the Authoritarian regime.

Huq and Ginsburg called this action constitutional retrogression. Constitutional retrogression is a slow erosion of democratic institutions through legal and procedural manipulation. (Huq & Ginsburg, 2018) Thailand’s courts have become tools of authoritarian rulings. Judicial repression ensures that even when opposition parties gain electoral support, they are quickly neutralized.

Institutional engineering and military entrenchment.

One of the biggest enemies of democracy is institutional engineering and military entrenchment. Thailand’s military has staged at least 12 coups since 1932 (BBC, 2014). The most recent military coup that has happened was back in 2014, when General Prayuth Chan-o-cha took control of the government with the promise of political reforms and order restoration. Yet the military’s influence has only deepened. The military-ruled government later held comparatively competitive and open elections in 2023. This allowed the opposition party “Move Forward Party” to ultimately win the election. Despite winning the election, the Move Forward Party was blocked from forming a government by the military-appointed Senate and subsequently dissolved by the Constitutional Court.( Freedom House, 2026) The Freedom House report also shows how the appointed Senate and electoral rules favor pro‑military parties, ensuring that democratic competition remains constrained.

Schmitter and Karl (1991) warned against “electoralism”, which is the fallacy that holding elections alone is sufficient enough for democracy (Schmitter & Karl, 1991). Thailand’s elections occur, but unelected institutions like the military-appointed Senate veto the outcomes.

Military entrenchment is a core obstacle to Thailand’s path to liberal democracy. Even as the economy grows, the military ensures that political power remains tightly controlled. Within their grasp.

Elite bargains and patronage.

Another huge factor in why Thailand is struggling to develop into a democratic nation is the entrenched elite power. Despite the economic prosperity, the country has disproportionately benefited business and political elites, who prefer stability over openness. The country is becoming more of a patronage network. Patronage networks strengthen authoritarian regimes. As long as elites continue to benefit most from economic growth, they have little reason to support reforms that could threaten their position.

The Paradox of Prosperity

Thailand’s democratic trajectory demonstrates a sobering truth: economic growth does not automatically strengthen democracy. Instead, entrenched elites, military dominance, judicial manipulation, and legal repression have combined altogether to erode democratic institutions. Thailand’s military and monarchy have precisely made sure that prosperity fortifies authoritarian structures rather than dismantling them.

Conclusion

Thailand’s trajectory once again reminds us that for democracy to thrive in one’s country, it requires more than economic prosperity. It demands independent judicial institutions, citizens with freedom of speech, and accountability. Without these, economic ascendancy risks becoming a façade—masking a democracy in retreat. This example is beyond Thailand. Rising economies across the globe must recognize that growth without democratic safeguards risks entrenching authoritarianism.

Reference

BBC News. (2014, May 22). Thailand army seizes power in coup. BBC. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27517591
Freedom House. (2026.). Thailand. Freedom House.  https://freedomhouse.org/country/thailand

Human Rights Watch. (2026). World report 2026: Thailand. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2026/country-chapters/thailand