The recent wave of democratization in East Asia predominantly struck countries in which the armed forces had played a dominant political role under the authoritarian regimes. This article analyzes how and how successful governments in emerging East Asian democracies have crafted civilian control...

On 19 September 2006, units of the Royal Thai Army successfully staged a coup d’?tat against the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. This article sets out to examine the recent events within the broader context of social and political developments in Thailand since 1932. Its main...

In democracies throughout the world, intra-party factions manifest themselves in parties and governments. Formal and informal institutions have, however, proved crucial in managing factionalism. This is especially true in Thailand’s emerging parliamentary democracy where the management of...