Thailand’s political stalemate needs revival to stimulate the economy

Synopsis: Straits Times global writer Nirmal Ghosh highlights Asian perspectives on global and Asian issues with expert guests.

Once seen as a rising middle power, Thailand is now mired in political and economic stagnation that is affecting its international standing. Years of political unrest had resulted in the country’s economy underperforming, with GDP growing by 1.9 percent in 2023.

Although economists expect GDP growth of around 2.7 percent in 2024 and 2.9 percent in 2025, the growth is not sufficient to meet requirements and expectations.

Thailand is currently under relatively new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 38-year-old daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. But its “old guard” institutions have not allowed the country to develop politically as they control political outcomes through agencies such as the Constitutional Court, the Election Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Senate, says Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a senior fellow at Das Institute of Security and International Studies at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s international reputation has declined – although the country remains a major player in the region due to its size and geographical location. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is also divided on contentious issues such as the ongoing civil war in Myanmar.

With Malaysia set to lead ASEAN in 2025, its Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has appointed former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin as an informal adviser. But a younger generation should take it forward and not the older generation, says Professor Thitinan, who is also currently a visiting professor at the London School of Economics, in this episode with host Nirmal Ghosh.

Highlights (click/tap above):

6:02 How the military coup in May 2014 “sunk” Thailand

10:29 Thailand has lost out on technological revolutions like AI

15:07 Why ASEAN is currently the weakest

19:22 How Thailand can play a regional role in the Myanmar crisis and curb cross-border crimes such as fraud

21:39 Msia Prime Minister Anwar chooses Thaksin Shinawatra as informal ASEAN advisor

Host: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive Producer: Lynda Hong

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