TTLA: The role of businessmen in Thai politics: The case of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra

INFORMATION ABOUT DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the researcher:Nguyen Dinh Thuan

2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: August 14, 1979

4. Place of birth: Hoa Phu Commune, Ung Hoa District, Hanoi.

5. Decision on recognition of PhD students: No. 2999/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH dated December 30, 2013 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in training process: No

7. Topic name:“The Role of Business in Thai Politics: The Case of Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra”.

8. Major: Political Science.Code: 62.31.02.01

9. Scientific instructor:Assoc.Prof.Dr. Hoang Khac Nam.

10. Summary of new results of the thesis:

- The thesis systematically presents the modern Thai politics from the 1932 coup to 2006, clarifying the process of political institutional transformation from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy, from dictatorship to democracy and the political fluctuations surrounding those transitions.

- The thesis analyzes the role of social classes in the political transition process of Thailand, in which it presents and systematically analyzes the origin and development of Thai businessmen, emphasizing the interactive relationship between businessmen and politicians, between businessmen and other political forces and between business activities and political activities.

- The thesis proves that, since participating in politics, businessmen have contributed to the degradation of electoral democracy and are one of the main factors causing instability in Thai politics.

11. Practical application:

- The thesis will be a reference document, material for research on international politics and regional studies.

12. Further research directions:

- Research on crony capitalism and vested interests in Thai governments

13. Published works related to the thesis:

1) Nguyen Dinh Thuan (2016), “The electoral democratic political process in Thailand (1988-2014): some characteristics and trends”,Journal of Southeast Asian Studies190 (1), pp.3-9.

2) Nguyen Dinh Thuan (2016), "The process of building legitimacy of Thai military governments",Journal of Southeast Asian Studies191 (2), pp.12-20.

3) Nguyen Dinh Thuan (2016), “On the instability of political parties in Thailand”,Foreign Affairs Magazine77 (3), pp.48-51.

INFORMATION ABOUT DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of researcher: Nguyen Dinh Thuan2. Sex: male

3. Date of birth: August 14, 19794. Place of birth: Hoa Phu Commune, Ung Hoa District, Hanoi City

5. Admission decision number: 2999/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH dated December 30, 2013, issued by Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University - Ha Noi.

6. Changes during academic process: none

7. Official thesis title: Roles of businessmen in Thai modern politics: The case of the former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

8. Major: Political Studies.Code: 62.31.20.01

9. Supervisor: Associate Professor, PhD. Hoang Khac Nam

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

- The thesis has provided a systematic explanation of the modern Thai politics after the 1932 coup d'état until 2006, with the focus on the transformation of Thailand's political institution from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy and from a dictatorship to a democracy, as well as political turmoil around such transforming processes.

- The thesis has analyzed the roles of social strata during Thailand's political transformation with the emphasis on providing a systematic explanation and analysis of the origins and development of Thai businessmen, as well as the interaction between businessmen and politicians, between businessmen and other political forces, and between business and political activities.

- The thesis has proved that since taking part in politics, businessmen have contributed to the depression of Thailand's electoral democracy and have been one of the main factors that led this democracy to instability.

11. Practical applicability, if any:

- The thesis will be used as a source of reference for research in international politics and regional studies.

12. Further research directions, if any:

- Crony capitalism and group interests in Thailand's government.

13. Thesis-related publications:

1) Nguyen Dinh Thuan (2016), “Thailand's political evolution of electoral democracy (1988-2014): features and prospects”,Southeast Asian Studies Journal190 (1), pp. 3-9.

2) Nguyen Dinh Thuan (2016), “The building of legitimacy of Thailand's military government”Southeast Asian Studies Journal191 (2), pp. 12-20.

3) Nguyen Dinh Thuan (2016), “The unrest of Thailand's political parties”,Foreign Affairs Journal77 (3), pp. 48-51.