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This dissertation is a qualitative examination of how the anti-dam movements, with so many disadvantages, are able to pursue their goals in a hybrid democratic political system in Thailand. This dissertation tries to prove that the extra-bureaucratic influence, which emerges from the anti-dam movements are gaining their foothold in the dam politics of Thailand and become a major cause in increase in pluralism in the fragmented authoritarian regime of Thailand. There are two major arguments in the dissertation: Firstly, FA framework, which has already been proved applicable to China by Lieberthal and Oksenberg in 1988 and by Metha in 2008 is also applicable to Thailand. Second argument is that the success of anti-dam movement should not be judged simply by the ability to cancel the project. If we only consider the ability to cancel the project, we may either overestimate or underestimate the ability of anti-dam movement. However, it does not mean that the ability to cancel the dam project does not count at all or should be excluded completely because it still proves the short-term success, which means that the project is cancelled as that moment. In sum, the “success” of the anti-dam movement mentioned in this dissertation is the ability to transform the state’s decision-making process for the dam project into the direction of more pluralism and less of authoritarianism so that individuals and groups both inside and outside the traditional arenas of policymaking have increasing role in the policy process. Thus the ability to cancel the dam project is an additional indicator not the main one. This view is illustrated through the four case studies: Bhumibol Dam, Nam Choan Dam, Pak Mun Dam, and Kaeng Sua Ten Dam.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1Introduction………………………………………………………….2
1.1 Research Motivations………………………………………….8
1.2 Research Purposes…..………………...……………………...14
1.3 Research Questions…………………………………………...15
1.3 Research Method...…………………………………………...16

2 Analytical Framework …………………………………………….22
2.1 Literature Review…………………………………………….22
2.2 The Approaches to the Study of Thai Politics………………..32
2.2.1 Modernization Approaches…………………………....35
2.2.2 Neo-Pluralist Approaches……………………..……….38
2.2.3 Political Economy Approaches…………….……….....43
2.2.4 Fragmented Authoritarianism.……………………..…..44

3 Dam Construction in Thailand: A Historical Analysis…………..46

4 Major Actors……...…..…………………………………..….…….61

5 Case Studies………………………………………………….……..69

6 Conclusion: A Comparative Analysis...………..……………...…99

Bibliography……………………………………………………………..109

Key Words

anti-dam movement, extra-bureaucratic influence, fragmented authoritarianism, Thailand

Figures

Figure 1 Map of Provinces in Thailand……………………………….... 9
Figure 2 Map of Major Rivers in Thailand………………………….....13
Figure 3 Primary Energy Production and Consumption in Thailand, 1980 – 2008……...………………………………………………... 50

Tables

Table 1.1 Water Levels in Some Major Dams in Thailand (in Percentage % of Its Storage Capacity)……………………………………..5
Table 1.2 Dams Pending Government Approval…………………………7
Table 4.1 Strategies for the Case Selection……………………………..19
Table 3.1 Changes in Forest Areas and Agricultural Land, 1961-1998…………………………………………………………..51
Table 5.1 Numbers of People and Families Relocated for Dam Construction in Thailand……………………………………. 70
Table 5.2 Nam Choan Dam Case: Key events (1971 to 1988)………….73
Table 5.3 Pak Mun Dam case: Key events (1982 to 2007)……..………82
Table 5.4 Kaeng Sua Ten Dam case: Key events (1981 to 2011)…..…..93
Table 6.1 Policy Entrepreneurs………………………………………...103
Table 6.2.1 Issue Framing………………………………………………..105
Table 6.2.2 The Forest Land Lost According to the Dam Projects……...106
Table 6.3 Coalitions and Broad-Based Support………………………..107

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