Further to Nich Farrelly’s previous post, Chang Noi has a fascinating article in todays Nation about political thinker (and failed politician) Anek Laothamatas’ current thinking on populism. Here are some extracts:

In his book, “Thaksina-prachaniyom” (Thaksin-style populism) Anek worries that Thaksin could be a signal of even worse to come. Thaksin gave people things they wanted, and was rewarded with massive support at the polls. Even if Thaksin and the Thai Rak Thai Party vanish from Thailand’s political map, this populism will stay. Other leaders will copy it. Once one party offers people the moon, then its rivals must offer the moon and the stars. But Anek fears the risks are massive. …

Anek is not just working from theory. He left academia, joined the Democrat Party, and headed the team trying to craft a policy platform to rival the Thai Rak Thai Party. He switched to lead the Mahachon Party which was annihilated by Thai Rak Thai at the 2005 polls. When he argues that “Thaksin-type populism is very difficult to oppose”, he knows what he’s talking about.

Anek tries to avoid saying that rural people are just stupid and so are easily fooled. But in the end he compares populism to a magic spell (sakot) which renders people stunned, mobile, and unable to resist. …

Anek argues that “pure democracy”, the rule of the majority, is bound to lead to crude populism. “A better democracy is a balanced compromise between three elements: the representatives of the lower classes who are the majority in the country, the middle class, and the upper class.” In this democracy, the only time when everybody has equal rights is when they drop their ballot paper in the box. After that “the importance of each person depends on knowledge, ability, experience, and status”. …

What is most striking about the book is what is missing. In his message a decade ago, Anek stressed that the division in Thai politics between city and village was founded on a massive, unfair, and hugely resented division in income, rights, and privilege. Closing that gap was a priority. In this book, the message is still there, but buried deep. Managing the political consequences of that gap is now the priority.

Government of the people, by the elite, for the middle class.

Those who want to be reminded just how repulsed Anek’s party Mahachon were by Thaksin style populism may want to have a look at this previous post.