Context is critical to the success and progress, or failure in SEA's
implementation and outcomes in a country. This is indeed true in
Thailand's experience in SEA as it is in many other places elsewhere. In
the foregoing study we have argued that the particularity of the Thai
planning context as well as the broader governance structure and
processes in the country has influenced the extent, substance and
form of adoption of SEA. Top-down tradition of planning and serious
limitation of public participation opportunity structures and institutional
culture have minimized SEA's positive impact and influence in
development planning and projects. The four cases presented
illustrate clearly, among others, that SEA has not been integrated
and does not influence decision-making in development, contrary to
expectations associated with its introduction in Thailand. Invariably,
except in one case, public participation in the conduct of SEA has also
been absent, seriously flawed or tokenistic. These weaknesses in SEA
implementation shown by the four cases have been further affirmed
in the surveys conducted by authors on SEA stakeholders, practitioners
and planners in the government. Based on their perception