泰国的选举及其民主化进程

Election and Democratization Process in Thailand

政党、代议制被认为是民主制的核心 ,而公平、诚实、定期的选举 ,是民主制质量的决定性因素。然而从泰国近 70年所举行的 19次大选中我们可以清楚地看到 ,西方的民主理念和制度在这块土地上的实践 ,与鼓吹者所许之愿和民众的期盼相去甚远。在选举这个最广泛的民主动员过程中 ,选民未见预期的利益 ,反而目睹了光天化日之下的一幕幕贿选、争斗甚至是暴力的阴暗面 ,其民主制的质量可想而知。这种选举滋生并培育了与民主对立的负面意识 ,成为威权政治生存和发展的沃土。因此 ,泰国的民主化将是一个长期的进程。

Political party and parliament have been considered as a key to democracy,while a fair, honest and regularly held election is the decisive factor of the quality of a democratic system.However, through the 19 general elections that Thailand has held in the past 70 years,we can see clearly that the democratic practice in the way of Western democratic conception and system is far removed from the will of the Thai people. Instead of the benefits they have expected, what the voters have experienced is the dark side of the election like bribery, strife and even violence. This kind of election has generated a negative feeling against democracy, and has become the fertile soil for the growth of authoritarianism.