By Sun Xi
Eventually, another military coup happened in Thailand as the traditional last resort, which while being alleged by the junta as a means to bring an end the year-long political impasse, may lead to further turmoil.
The undemocratic coup has clearly disappointed the West, especially the U.S. The U.S. State Department has cancelled ongoing military exercises and other exchange programs with Thailand, based on U.S. law and so-called "democratic principles.''
Democracy's flaws or flawed democracy
Thailand was ever lauded as one of the best replication models of Western democracy in Southeast Asia but now democracy is accused of having caused "losses'' for the country, according to a spokesman for Thailand's coup leaders. Then, is it really democracy's fault?
Thailand's democracy has been trapped in the vicious coup-election-coup cycle. Democratic elections did not bring the country peace and prosperity, but deeply divide the society. A flawed democracy has failed in Thailand, not because of the lack of elections, but the lack of really effective IUU (checks and balances'' of a sound liberal democracy.
Powers should be theoretically separated into a legislature, an executive, and a judiciary. Thailand has copied such de jure "separation of powers,'' but de facto powers are controlled or influenced by the monarchy, the military and the government. Even worse, Thai political parties fail to unite the whole society and maximize the interests for all citizens, but only serve the interests of certain groups and regions.
Learn from Singapore or Japan?
Robert Hardy, a U.S. consultant, suggests that Thailand may learn from Singapore's managed democracy, under which "the people can vote for their representatives, but civil servants appointed by its elite hold the power of the purse."
However, first, it is arguable whether Singapore's democracy is managed; second, will Thailand have the same fortune to have a strong and wise leader like Lee Kuan Yew and a clean and capable party like the People's Action Party (PAP) in Singapore? Thailand is so different from Singapore, from historical and cultural perspectives.
Japan may be a better sample for Thailand. Both Thailand and Japan have long and similar histories of monarchy. Thailand has experienced 12 military coups in the recent eight decades since the establishment of constitutional monarchy in 1932. Similarly, Japan also suffered from the long-time feudal hereditary military dictatorship (shogun) from 1192 to 1867. Differently, nowadays Japan has become one of the most democratic and prosperous constitutional monarchies around the world. Japan's successful transition to modern democracy was largely due to U.S. help and guidance after World War II.
However, times have changed. Even Thailand is willing to accept Western help to clean its political chaos and fix its flawed democracy, the West is unlikely capable to intervene constructively. Ukraine is the most vivid case of failure.
Lessons from China
Democracy has been propagandized as a universal value by the West, but actually it is conditional and incremental. High-quality democracy requires certain prerequisites, such as citizens' high economic, educational level and full consciousness of citizenship. Democracy also needs time to develop into maturity gradually. A simple and quick copy will only create a troublesome democracy, which has been commonly evident across Asia and other developing regions.
Moreover, Western-style liberal democracy is not the only right answer and there is no "one-size-fits-all'' and "plug-and-play'' solution to successfully introduce such a democracy. In fact, the forms of democracy can be diverse. Each country should find its own really suitable political model, rather than simply copy others'.
China tried many different types of political systems, includingconstitutional monarchy, imperial restoration, parliamentarism, a multi-party system and a presidential system during the end of the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China's warlord government, but all failed. Finally, the People's Republic of China led by the Chinese Communist Party realized that China must seek an independent political path, according to China's actual and special national conditions. Although China's current political model may not be superior to the West as advocated by certain optimists, China's so-far successful practices prove that "finding your own right course'' is critical to prosperity.
The West is no longer the savior, and Thailand has to rely on itself to find the way out. Currently, it is difficult to say what kind of democracy is best for Thailand, but trying to fix those systematic flaws rather than giving up on democracy will prove to be a more sustainable solution to end Thailand's political impasse.
The writer is a socially responsible investment analyst and independent commentary writer based in Singapore. He is an alumnus of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore from China. Contact him at sunshinelkyspp@gmail.com.