The active participation of jap pho in national politics has had an important impact on the power structure. They compete with the ‘old élites’ such as the military and bureaucracy for a share in the ‘corruption money’ .They manipulate the institutions of parliamentary democracy . They aim to use the resulting power to maintain their status ‘above the law’ in order to further their business interests, both legal illegal. The emergence of the jao pho to such a position of importance in national politics raises several questions. Is this a passing phase of Thailand’s economic and democratic growth? Or is it the first stage in the emergence of a structure of political boss-ism or gang-ism on par with the Italian Mafia or the political structure of some Latin American countries? What are the forces opposed to the jao pho and how can their strength be developed?