SEMINAR ON THAI POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE : A CASE STUDY OF CHALLENGES OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN THAILAND

Abstract

           Local government serves as a fundamental foundation for democratic development and decentralization in Thailand. This article aims to analyze key problems in Thai local government administration. The findings reveal that local government problems in Thailand are complex and interconnected across multiple dimensions, consisting of 1) centralization of power by the central government, 2) fiscal and budgetary issues, 3) limited public participation, 4) personnel problems, and 5) corruption issues.

         This article proposes solutions through legal reform, improvement of local fiscal systems, development of public participation mechanisms, strengthening of good governance, andenhancement of local personnel capabilities, emphasizing integrated cooperation from all sectorsand the creation of management innovations tailored to each area's context.The recommendations from this study aim to drive concrete reform of decentralization and localgovernment, enabling local government organizations to efficiently respond to people's needsand serve as a key mechanism for sustainable grassroots democratic development.