The intricacies and subtleties of the Thai bureaucracy defy adequate description. The following items deal with aspects of administrative action and the formal structures within which action occurs. But they do not add up to a comprehensive portrait.

Most interesting and broadly informative are the relatively few studies which have an explanatory purpose — i.e., those which attempt to view Thai public administration in its larger social and political context, since the Thai bureaucracy is indeed a significant component of the Thai social system. Mosel’s “Thai Administrative Behavior,” although published in 1957, remains an incisive statement of the social and psychological factors that make Thai administration what it is. The two most recent extensive studies of this genre are Riggs, Thailand: The Modernization of a Bureaucratic Polity, and Siffin, The Thai Bureaucracy: Institutional Change and Development.

There are a growing number of descriptive studies and reports on particular aspects of Thai government and administration. Some material of this kind was produced at the Thai Institute of Public Administration, Thammasat University, in the form of Master’s theses, many of which are mimeographed. In April, 1966, the IPA became a faculty of the new National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). NIDA should continue to be a useful source of data on Thai public administration.

A substantial collection of papers and reports has been produced by AID technicians and AID contract personnel, and military activities have also generated studies and data relevant for the study of public administration.

Part one of this section describes aspects of the administrative system generally; parts two and three deal primarily with civil service administration and with revenue and finance administration. Some basic data on Thai public administration will be found in the general survey volumes cited in the first section of this guide and in the sections on political leaders and the political system (C-1), on subnational government (C-5), and on the Thai economy (E-1, 2, 3).

1. The Administrative System

Angsusingha, Pakorn. The Community Development Program in Thailand. Bangkok: Department of Public Welfare, Ministry of Interior, 1958. 47 pages.

An official description of the establishment and early phases of community development activities in Thailand. The author was at the time of writing, the Director General of the Public Welfare Department.

Bunnag, Tej. “The Provincial Administration of Siam from 1892 to 1915.” Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Oxford University, 1968.

Perhaps the definitive study of the formulation and implementation of provincial reform under King Chulalongkorn and Prince Damrong.

Evers, Hans-Dieter. “The Formation of a Social Class Structure: Urbanization, Bureaucratization and Social Mobility in Thailand.” See Section G-l.

Evers, Hans-Dieter. “Social Mobility Among Thai Bureaucrats.” Journal of Southeast Asian History, September, 1966, pp. 110- 115.

The basic conclusion of this study is that “in the course of urbanization, social mobility into at least one specific stratum of Thai society [the bureaucratic elite] has declined,” and that this is owing largely to occupational specialization, bureaucratization and differential fertility.

Huvanandana, Malai, and William J. Siffin. “Public Administration in Thailand,” in S. S. Hsueh (ed.), Public Administration in South and Southeast Asia. Brussels: International Institute of Administrative Sciences, 1962, pp. 157-187. (Also issued by the Institute of Public Administration, Thammasat University, Bangkok, n.d. 50 pages, offset.)

A description of the Thai “philosophy” of public administration, development of the Thai bureaucracy, reform of the Thai government, and expansion of the service state in Thailand. Considers the characteristics of authority in the system and relations between politics and administration.

Ibrahim, A. Rashid. “Public Administration in Thailand (A Cursory View of Main Features).” Thai Journal of Public Administration, October, 1961, pp. 340-357.

A description of Thai public administration by the former deputy executive secretary of EC AFE. Concludes that Thai administration compares favorably with other Asian countries.

Jayanama, Direck. “Buddhism and Administration.” See Section G-2.

Manual of Organization of the Government of Thailand. Bangkok: Institute of Public Administration, Thammasat University, 1959-1965.

A series of organization manuals for each of twelve government ministries and the Office of the Prime Minister: public health, agriculture, national development, justice, foreign affairs, economic affairs, communications, industry, interior, finance, education, defense. The manuals were published over a seven-year period and are now out of date.

Mosel, James N. “Thai Administrative Behavior,” in W. J. Siffin (ed.), Toward the Comparative Study of Public Administration. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1959, pp. 278-324.

A distinguished essay which charts the historical development of the Thai bureaucracy and delineates the socio-cultural context of contemporary Thai public administration.

Mousny, André. The Economy of Thailand: An Appraisal of a Liberal Exchange Policy. See Section E-1.

Neher, Clark D. Development in Rural Thailand. Los Angeles: Academic Advisory Council for Thailand, University of California at Los Angeles, 1969. 20 pages.

This paper, presented at a conference on Local Authority in Thailand, examines relations between a northern Thai village and the district level of official government, describes the working of sukhapiban committees in districts within Chiengmai province, and treats other associations briefly — commune committee, farmers’ group, and irrigation association. Concludes that there is a significant political element at the village level, and offers a series of recommendations to enhance developmental potentialities in rural Thailand, stressing ways of mobilizing the considerable talents of the political stratum of the rural communities.

Organization and Management of the Ministry of Education: Survey and Recommendations. Bangkok: Bureau of the Budget, Organization and Management Division, October, 1966. 186 pages + appendices.

A survey of the present formal structure and operation of the Ministry of Education with recommendations for structural change within the Ministry. Basically an “O & M” exercise, which avoids “hard” questions about relationships between educational organization and the social goals of education.

Organizational Directory of the Government of Thailand. See Section I-3.

Parker, Glen L. Accelerating the Rate of Economic Growth: A Study in Economic Policy. See Section E-3.

Parker, Glen L. The Industrial Development of Thailand: A Summary of Recommendations. See Section E-3.

Program for Strengthening Public Administration in the Kingdom of Thailand. Bangkok and Chicago: Public Administration Service, May, 1952. 31 pages.

The report of a preliminary survey examining budget and accounting procedures, the tax system, and the relationship between central planning agencies and municipal administrative organizations. Offers proposals to strengthen public institutions and procedures in Thailand. Interesting as a bench mark.

Reeve, W. D. Public Administration in Siam. London: Royal Institute of International Affairs, 1951. 93 pages.

A description of the Thai administrative system following establishment of the limited monarchy in 1932, written by a former customs advisor to the Thai government. The concluding chapter discusses merits and defects of the system.

Riggs, Fred W. The Ecology of Public Administration. Bombay and London: Asia Publishing House, 1961. 152 pages.

A collection of three lectures delivered at the Indian Institute of Public Administration, on the ecology of administration in the United States, Thailand, and the Philippines. Chapter Two deals with the ecology of administration in traditional Thailand and Chapter Three with internal and external factors affecting change in Thailand and the Philippines.

Riggs, Fred W. Thailand: The Modernization of a Bureaucratic Polity. See Section C-1.

Semthiti, Theb. “Department of Administrative Inspection.” Unpublished Master’s thesis. Bangkok: Institute of Public Administration, Thammasat University, 1959. 158 pages.

Describes the organization and functions of a department which served as an important bureaucratic surveillance and control mechanism during the Pibul regime. The department reflected one approach to the control of administrative behavior in the Thai Bureaucracy.

Shor, Edgar L. “The Public Service,” in Joseph L. Sutton (ed.), Problems of Politics and Administration in Thailand. Bloomington: Institute of Training for Public Service, Indiana University, 1962, pp. 32-40.

A partly descriptive, partly analytical essay on the Thai bureaucracy, with emphasis on the civil service system.

Shor, Edgar L. “The Thai Bureaucracy.” Administrative Science Quarterly, June, 1960, pp. 66-86.

Relates the distinctive characteristics of the Thai bureaucracy to its socio-political milieu. Focuses on institutional patterns and modes of behavior of career officialdom. Data obtained through interviews with representative officials and from records in the ministries and the Thai Civil Service Commission.

Siffin, William J. “The Development of the Office of the President of the Council of Ministers, B.E. 2502-3.” Thai Journal of Public Administration, October, 1960, pp. 80-106.

Discusses developments in the formal structure of the office of the Prime Minister under Marshal Sarit following the revolution of October, 1958.

Siffin, William J. The Thai Bureaucracy: Institutional Change and Development Honolulu: East-West Center Press, 1966. 300 pages.

Traces the development of the contemporary Thai bureaucratic system. Describes the traditional bureaucracy, analyzes the reformation of the late nineteenth century and the developments of the post-reformation period. Characterizes the present bureaucracy in terms of its general normative structure as a social substructure.

Silcock, T.H. “Promotion of Industry and the Planning Process.” See Section E-3.

Suvanajata, Titaya. Perceived Leader Role of Community Development Workers in Thailand. Bangkok: U.S. Agency for International Development, 1964. 78 pages.

An analysis of the leadership functions of community development workers, based on a questionnaire survey of 102 workers. Some interesting information on the role-perceptions of CD workers.

Thomas, M. Ladd. “Political Socialization of the Thai-Islam.” See Section G-4.

Thomas, M. Ladd. “Thai Public Administration.” New Zealand Journal of Public Administration, September, 1962, pp. 3-33.

A broad description of the Thai administrative system, which goes beyond the formal structural characteristics to take account of certain ecological factors that help explain the workings of the bureaucracy.

Utthangkorn, Amphorn. “Bus Regulation in the Bangkok-Thonburi Metropolitan Area.” Unpublished Master’s thesis. Bangkok: Institute of Public Administration, Thammasat University, 1960. 189 pages.

A careful and extensive description of actual patterns of regulatory administration found in this field as of the late 1950’s.

Vilaichitt, Snit. Kamnan and Puyaiban: Their Origin, History and Importance to Village Development in Thailand. Bangkok: U.S. Agency for International Development, 1967.

A translation of a 1964 work by the Thai Deputy Director General of the Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior. While this is one of the few works in English which describe the formal roles of kamnan-puyaiban, tracing their development from the reforms of King Chulalongkorn, its major value lies in showing the thinking of a high Thai official about bringing village actualities more into accord with the ideal conceived by government administrators. The translation is poor.

Wales, H. G. Quaritch. Ancient Siamese Government and Administration. See Section B-1.

Yatsushiro, Toshio. The Village Organizer in Thailand: A Study of His Needs and Problems. Bangkok: U.S. Agency for International Development, 1964. 107 pages.

A study of village organizers of the Department of Community Development, Ministry of Interior. Suggests, for example, that village organizers should be male, older than 25 years, have rural backgrounds, and should concentrate on fostering local leadership.

2. Personnel and Civil Service

Choosanay, Manoo. “The Role of Discipline in Administration of the Department of Interior, Thailand.” Unpublished Master’s thesis. Bangkok: Institute of Public Administration, Thammasat University, 1960. 93 pages.

A description of formal penalties and informal procedures in the Department of Interior, by an experienced Thai government official. Interesting for its personal observations.

Gaewchaiyo, Ura. “The Development of Thai Civil Service Commission.” Unpublished Master’s thesis. Bangkok: Institute of Public Administration, Thammasat University, 1959. 138 pages.

A description of the development of the Thai civil service system, containing detailed information about Thai civil service law and policy. Also, an extensive description of the structure of the Thai Civil Service Commission as of 1959.

Hansakul, Chakra. “A Study of Pay Policy and Administration in the Thai Civil Service.” Unpublished Master’s thesis. Bangkok: Institute of Public Administration, Thammasat University, 1959. 228 pages.

An extensive description of past and present pay policy and administration in Thai civil service. Some figures on pay scales. Considerable information on some aspects of bureaucratic modernization.

Marsh, Harry W., and Ernest J. Barbour. Public Personnel Management in Thailand. Bangkok: U.S. Agency for International Development, 1961. 20 pages.

A brief survey of Thai personnel practices. Stresses the need for a system of position classifications as opposed to the “personal rank” system now in use in the Thai civil service, but concludes that needed reforms are not yet likely to occur.

Shor, Edgar L. “The Public Service.” See Section D-1.

Siffin, William J. “The Civil Service System of the Kingdom of Thailand.” International Review of Administrative Services, March, 1960, pp. 255-268.

A brief history and description of the Thai civil service system.

Siffin, William J. “Personnel Processes of the Thai Bureaucracy,” in Ferrel Heady and Sybil Stokes (eds.), Papers in Comparative Administration. Ann Arbor: Institute of Public Administration, University of Michigan, 1962, pp. 207-228.

A systematic description of basic processes characteristic of the Thai bureaucracy: procurement of personnel resources, the ways in which they are ordered or organized, and the techniques of energizing or motivating personnel.

Soonthornsima, Chinnawoot. “The Relation of College Education and Pay Levels in the Thai Civil Service.” Unpublished Master’s thesis. Bangkok: Institute of Public Administration, Thammasat University, 1959. 149 pages.

A historical description of the civil service pay system. Examines pay scales and analyzes the relationship between pay levels and higher education as of the late 1950’s.

Sukhum Nayapradit, Luang. “The Civil Service System.” Thai Journal of Public Administration, January, 1964, pp. 437-449.

An outline of the organization and legal provisions of the Thai civil service system by the then-director general of the Thai Civil Service Commission.

Suwanagul, Kasem. “Recruitment and Promotion in the Thai Civil Service.” Thai Journal of Public Administration, October, 1963, pp. 340-357.

A critical essay on recruitment and promotion in the Thai Civil Service drawn from the author’s doctoral dissertation. Concludes that the system’s prevailing philosophy cannot meet future personnel needs.

Udyanin, Kasem, and Rufus D.Smith. The Public Service in Thailand: Organization, Recruitment and Training. Brussels: International Institute of Administrative Sciences, 1954. 64 pages.

A general description of the traditional and contemporary formal structures of the Thai public service. Brief discussion of the Civil Service Act of 1952.

3. Revenue and Finance Administration

Amatayakul, Ravi, and Shrikrishna A. Pandit. “Financial Institutions in Thailand.” See Section E-1.

Final Report, Project for Modernization of Government Fiscal Management. Bangkok and Chicago: Public Administration Service, 1963. 86 pages.

The final report of the PAS contract team on modernization of Thai fiscal administration. Contains sections on budget preparation, accounting and fiscal reporting, auditing, revenue administration. (In Thai and English.)

Loftus, John A. “Problems of Fiscal Management.” See Section E-1.

Neher, Clark D. “District Level Politics in Thailand.” See Section C-5.

A Public Development Program f or Thailand. See Section E-3.

Report on Organization and Administration of the Revenue Department, Kingdom of Thailand. Bangkok and Chicago: Public Administration Service, Report No. M-11, March, 1963. 76 pages.

A study of the organization and administration of the Revenue Department with recommendations for improvement.

Revenue Laws and Their Administration. See Section C-3.

Silabhundhu, Charoensook. “Study of National Control of Sukaphiban Finance.” See Section C-5.

Sommers, William A. Statistics on Municipal Revenues in Thailand, 1963 to 1966. See Section C-5.

Sommers, William A. A Summary of the Budget Process for the Changwad Local Government. Bangkok: U.S. Agency for International Development, September, 1967. 17 pages.

Prepared in cooperation with the Thai Department of Local Administration, this is a brief, useful description of local government budgets with extensive tabular data on local government incomes and expenditures.

Wimoniti, Wira. “Historical Patterns of Tax Administration in Thailand.” Unpublished Master’s thesis. Bangkok: Institute of Public Administration, Thammasat University, 1961. 184 pages.

An extensive historical description of Thai revenue administration. Includes a substantial amount of information on practices and problems during the 1950’s.