Global Militarization by Peter Wallensteen & Johan Galtung

Author:Peter Wallensteen & Johan Galtung [Wallensteen, Peter & Galtung, Johan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Political Science, General
ISBN: 9780865316997
Google: ViyNDwAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 4026784
Publisher: Westview Press
Published: 1985-03-17T00:00:00+00:00

Problems and Prospects

At present, the military seems to have gained control of and access to all sectors of Thai society. By virtue of the organizational strength of the military vis-à-vis the organizational weakness of the political parties and other pressure groups, the military is destined to maintain its pervasive power in society and to dominate Thai politics.

Militarization of the Thai society has been manifested in several forms: military interventions by coups d'etat, military rule, expansion of the rule of the military into economic and development arenas, and the proliferation of paramilitary organizations. Military norms and values have been promoted and have penetrated society through the armed-forces-operated media.

The process of militarization of Thai society has been caused by both internal and external factors. Conflicts within the society, especially the challenge of the Communist movement and the emergence of progressive mass organizations, have alarmed the military leaders, who have responded by setting up their own mass organizations in rural as well as in urban areas in order to combat the potential enemies. Externally, the events in Indochina, especially the perceived threat from Vietnam after its occupation of Kampuchea and the presence of Vietnamese forces along the eastern border of Thailand, have provided justification for further militarization.

Since neither the internal nor the external factors are likely to disappear, Thailand will continue to be militarized and dominated by the military. It is quite clear that as militarization increases, the influence of the Thai armed forces and their domination of Thai politics and society will also increase. Consequently, freedom is likely to be restricted, and different opinions on political, economic, and social issues may not be tolerated in the future by the military or the military-dominated regime. As a consequence, a stable and uninterrupted democratic process is likely to be an "impossible dream."

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