Changes in patterns of political participation and engagement in Thailand, 2001-2007

This dissertation presents political participation and engagement trends in Thailand, seeking to explain how and why the quantity, quality, and equality of political participation and engagement have changed during the past decade (2001 - 2010). Data for its quantitative analyses are taken from two major sources. The first source is information collected by several government agencies such as the National Statistics Bureau (NSB) and the Office of Election Commission (ECT). The second source is data taken from several national surveys conducted in Thailand during the last decade by the Asian Barometer (ABS) and the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES). Relying on its longitudinal analyses, this dissertation argues that political participation and engagement in Thailand since 2001 has changed-not only in its quantity (number of participants) but also in its quality and equality. In order to explain changes in patterns of political participation, this dissertation proposes a participatory model that included not only socioeconomic status but also various attitudinal and mobilization factors to be tested in several context;s (years). This dissertation claims that participatory differences among groups of Thai citizens were not solely a consequence of differences in socioeconomic status backgrounds. Rather, there are various psychological, motivational, and context;ual factors affecting participatory disparities among social groups. Additionally, people participate in politics differently depending on types of political activity and on the political environment.