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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand

Volume XVI-2024 (Special Issue)

fascism–the ownership of government by an individual, group, or any other controlling private

power.
In Thailand, the monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu once discussed democracy as existing both

at dawn and at dusk. He said that if democracy were the only system in the world and it fell
into darkness, the whole world would be plunged into darkness. However, democracy founded

on virtue, like the dawn, would bring light and improvement. When democracy becomes
corrupted, with no virtue among the public, and people vote for corrupt representatives,

it leads to a corrupt parliament and government. Overtime, this corruption spreads to
everyone–ultimately even the monks or angels. He emphasized that democracy must be

grounded in virtue; without this foundation, it becomes the worst system. This view, while
influential, remains controversial among the public.

The Uniqueness of Thai Democracy

Thailand transitioned to a western style democracy on June 24, 1932, marking the 92 nd
anniversary of Thai democracy in 2024. The new governance system was called a constitutional

monarchy by westerners. Vimolphan Peetsthawatchai, a former leader of the Isra Institute,
wrote a book titled “Great King under the Constitution” (2010), referring to the system as

one with “His Majesty the King under the Constitution.” Professor Dr. Anek Laothamatas, too,
discussed this system in similar terms. However, the Thai constitution from 1949 to 1978 did not

explicitly describe Thailand system as a democracy with his Majesty the king as head of state.
Section 2 simply stated that Thailand had a governing system of democracy, and that the king

was the head of state.
In 1991, these two ideas were merged into one statement: Thailand has a governing

system of democracy, with His Majesty the King as head of state. This wording has been consistent
in all subsequent constitutions. In Thai, the phrase “His Majesty the King as head of state”

requires careful translation of “Phra Maha Kasat Song Pen Pramook,” and it is important not to
place Phra in front of Pramook because the system is not a monarchy in the traditional sense.

Rather, the phrase emphasizes democracy first, followed by the constitutional monarchy.
An important issue arises when considering that democracy requires a parliament, and the

government should be formed through elections–a mandate granted by the public at the time
of voting – while the ascension of kings to the throne does not follow such an electoral process.

How can these two systems coexist?

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