Looking at the Thai society today, considering the political and economic state of the country, which thesis do you think will describe the factors determining the development of the future welfare state?
According to current political and economical situation in Thailand, social democratic thesis is most likely to determine the development of the future welfare state of the country in my opinion. Since social democratic thesis noted that the welfare state is the sum of political and industrial mobilisation and the success of such political movement will lead to capitalism.
Firstly, as we had a prolong political conflict in this country, many protests took placed on the street around Bangkok and some other provinces in Thailand in the past decades. Unfortunately, lots of innocent people have died during these unlawful activities.
However, as a Thai citizen we all know that those people who came out and fight on the street are the poor and working class people. They clarified in the public that they were fighting for a better living condition of their family and themselves. More importantly, they were fighting for a democratic society that they deserve but somehow group of military elites appeared and took over the country then ruled it as they think it should be.
Personally, I think the political conflict in Thailand is now pausing but it is ongoing, as people are struggling with the current economic situation, sooner or later these working class people would have no choice but to come out and fight for their welfare. There will be more political movements on the street of Bangkok eventually these group of people would establish Social Democratic parties and turned Thailand into a capitalist society.
Finally, the living condition of the working class will definitely improved, public sector will be expanding across the country. Moreover, every policies and decision will be influence by democratic parliamentary system1.