Thailand listed among imperfect democracies amid erosion of public faith
Trust in Thailand's Political Institutions Hits Historic Lows
Trust in key political institutions in Thailand, including the Prime Minister and the Senate, has consistently dropped over the past 20 years. This troubling trend was highlighted at the International Political Science Association (IPSA) 2025 congress held in Seoul, South Korea.
The low levels of public trust in Thailand's democracy and government are primarily due to widespread perceptions of unjust income distribution, historic lows in confidence in political leadership, and a decline in citizens’ sense of political efficacy - their belief that they can influence government decisions. Surveys over the past 20 years show a consistent drop in trust in these key political institutions.
Other contributing factors discussed at the IPSA 2025 congress include rising political and ideological polarization within Thai society, deepening divisions over national visions and social goals. The global context of increasing authoritarian tendencies has also affected countries with previously stable democratic frameworks, with democracy eroding both from above and below.
The perception of income distribution in Thailand as unjust is the highest among all Asian nations studied. Confidence in the country's leadership is lower than ever, and public support for democracy is declining, as many feel that democratic systems no longer fulfil their promises in terms of economic security, political participation, or social justice.
The theme of the IPSA 2025 congress was Resisting Autocratisation in Polarised Societies. The 2025 IPSA congress focused on the urgent challenge of resisting authoritarianism in deeply polarised societies. Rising frustration and disillusionment, and in some countries, fear, have fuelled support for authoritarian leaders and their policies.
However, some countries have managed to resist the authoritarian tide through timely interventions, with a strong opposition, an independent judiciary, and a robust civil society playing crucial roles. Strengthening partnerships between democratic states and institutions can help safeguard and revitalise democratic systems, mitigating the damaging effects of authoritarian regimes.
Thailand has been classified as a flawed democracy. New regional security frameworks are enabling authoritarian-leaning leaders to capitalise on dissatisfaction with democracy. Opposing factions in many societies are increasingly viewing each other as existential threats.
Elected leaders in several democracies are beginning to undermine established norms, curtail minority rights and civil liberties, and reshape political platforms to suit their own agendas. Discussions at the conference centered on the global rise of authoritarian tendencies and the erosion of democracy.
The 2025 IPSA congress featured the presentation of thousands of academic papers, with women accounting for nearly half of the participants. Resilient democracies can actively support others in the region by countering authoritarian trends through international collaboration.
Political awareness among Thai citizens has improved, but their sense of political efficacy has declined. The erosion of trust is linked to economic inequality, political disillusionment, weakened institutional legitimacy, and broader authoritarian trends affecting democratic governance. These factors collectively undermine democratic stability and public confidence in Thailand’s government.
- The discussions at the International Political Science Association (IPSA) 2025 congress in Seoul, South Korea, highlighted the connection between Thailand's declining trust in political institutions and international politics, as the global context of increasing authoritarian tendencies has impacted even countries with previously stable democratic frameworks like Thailand.
- In the face of eroding public trust in political leadership and democratic institutions, such as the Prime Minister and the Senate, within Thailand, the theme of the IPSA 2025 congress, Resisting Autocratisation in Polarised Societies, underscores the importance of strengthening partnerships between democratic states and institutions, as a means to safeguard and revitalize democratic systems amidst the damaging effects of authoritarian regimes.
