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(NS). This Strategy “...must cover at least a period of 20 years and be
subject to a review every 5 years to be lined within the global or
national situations.” It is intended to allow for adjustment: “If and when
there occurs any global change of the global situation and if such
change has adversely affected the major purposes of the NS, a review
of the NS can be made with approval of the Parliament.” However, the
related National Strategy Draft Bill also states that “The National
Strategy binds all government agencies and officials legally. Those failing
to accomplish the set goals or follow the plans will be subject to
examination by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.”

The intent and need is clear; the practical implications of
implementation at this stage less so. It is not clear at this stage how
flexible the above policy process is likely to be in practice, particularly
with the inevitable emergence over time of differing and vested
interests for and against particular elements of a 20-year strategy. As
noted earlier, the distribution of the gains of economic growth
(economic surpluses), as well as the allocation of losses, is the normal
business of politics through debate, negotiation, and compromise. It is
not clear how different interests over such distributions, and over the
direction of economic policy, will be reconciled within Thailand’s
proposed policy framework. There is also concern that the approach
being taken may lead to technocratic interests appropriating or
dominating what should be the legitimate, if complex, difficult and
uncertain interactive political process.

Conclusion

The Thai case illustrates the fundamental political economy
challenge facing Asian emerging economies, particularly in Southeast
Asia. How to implement successfully the long-term economic
transformation necessary to address stalled growth and the middle-
income trap; and at the same time, also uphold a liberal democratic
political system that ensures political, economic, and civil rights. Policy
stability is needed for essential if uncertain economic change; but a

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