Executive Summary
The aims and objectives of the study
The promulgation of both the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand
B.E. 2540 (1997) and the Determining Plans and Process of Decentralization
Act B.E. 2542 (1999) provided a strong impetus for nationwide
decentralization. This momentum has been maintained over the past
decade, with increased autonomy and democracy at the local government
level. However, while there have been many positive developments,
challenges in the decentralization process remain. In particular, some
aspects of decentralization are still opposed by central government
agencies. This occurs, in part, because there continues to be ineffectiveness
at the local level, as well as a lack of institutional capacity to carry out policy
initiatives. The research aims to highlight these challenges, with the
objectives of the study as follows:
1. To evaluate the process of decentralization and explore the obstacles
in the decentralization process between 1997 and 2008.
2. To evaluate the effectiveness of statutory reforms and other
decentralization policies and compare them to similar processes
in other countries.
3. To clarify the direction of the decentralization process in Thailand,
as well as provide recommendations to ensure state agencies work
towards the same policy direction.
4. To contribute to the existing empirical data on Thailand’s
decentralization process with the purpose of generating further
research.
2 Executive Summary
In order to explore Thailand’s decentralization process since 1997, and
to suggest any policy directions for improving and developing local
administrative bodies, the team of researchers made the following
assumptions:
1. Local governments are public bodies that are established by the
modern state and thereby subsidiary to the State.
2. Local governments are local bodies that are granted autonomy to
carry out local administrative initiatives.
3. Local governments are bodies that help create the efficient delivery
of public services.
4. Local governments are institutions which ensure local democracy.
5. Local governments are bodies that operate with good governance
and knowledge.
While policy recommendations of this study are based on the above
principles, the purpose of this study is to reveal the challenges that have
occurred with respect to: (1) organizational structures of local government
bodies; (2) devolution of functions to local administrations; (3) local
revenues and fiscal decentralization; (4) reforming the local personnel
management system; (5) public participation; and, (6) changing approaches
to monitoring local administration.
This study presents an in-depth assessment of each of the six areas
mentioned above. Based on the findings, the team of researchers has
presented suggestions to improve the process of decentralization in these
areas. These suggestions have been defined as short term (1-3 years),
medium term (4-6 years) and long term (7-10 years) strategies.