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Deliberative Democracy is a way out for Thailand

Fri, 08/10/2010 - 14:30
Chamnan Chanruang

One of the concepts of Dr. Somkiat Tangnamo, former Rector of Midnight University, which was

repeatedly emphasized during our regular discussion was Deliberative Democracy. Members of

the Midnight University see the problem of Representative Democracy as focusing on only the

election which usually results in getting the persons who are not genuine representatives of people

in the society.

Members of the Parliament represent groups of political business and relatives. This is evident by

the fact that some banned politicians can still get their nominees elected in spite of the lack of

competence or experience to be able to truly represent the people.

The chance for the lower class or the poor to have a role in the legislative assembly or in solving

problems of the country under the Representative Democracy is considered zero. As such, there

have been efforts to introduce a new model of democracy as called Deliberative Democracy.

Such concept was first presented by Jurgen Habemas. He believes that Deliberative Democracy is

not about asking for something or receiving an order from the people in power. It is about living

together and trying to understand one another.

Deliberative Democracy does not primarily emphasize rights and liberties, benefits and obedience of

the people at large. Rather, it attaches importance to the process whereby fundamental rights and

liberties of citizens are guaranteed.

Deliberative originated from the process that uses jury or legislative assembly and other bodies

which have the authority to make a decision after allowing for debates on rationales of all parties

holding different opinions so as to equally and justly give them a space in politics.

Later on, Deliberative has developed its definition into a form of democracy that gives importance

to Consensus arisen from the deliberative process. It takes into account the evidence, rationale,

feeling and emotion and builds the understanding of common intent rather than making a decision

by the majority.

Example of Deliberative Democracy in other countries is the Town Meeting in U.S.A., particularly in

the area of New England on the Northeastern Region. It is the process of participation in the

deliberative by people in the community for the purpose of seeking common intent in making a
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public decision rather than letting the majority decide. Such deliberative process is similar to direct

democracy whereby people in the community attend a meeting to discuss, express opinions and

together make a decision such as that in Athens Regime in the past.

However, once the society grows larger and more complicated, it is difficult to conduct a Town

Meeting. Deliberative process thus applies a variety of methods appropriate under each

circumstance. For example:

1. Open Forum – It allows for a debate which is not specifically restricted to own agency or group.

It is opened to the general public or stakeholders in a similar manner to a public forum moderated

or chaired by academics like Chiang Mai People’s Assembly Forum of Ban Chum Muang Yen

Network(The peaceful Homeland Network) or the Constituency Dialogue of the National Democratic

Institute (NDI), etc.

2. Access to expression of opinions in the media; local newspaper, television, community radio or

internet – Example is the web site of Midnight University which opens the floor for the public to

propose people’s policies.

3. Deliberative Polling – This method can tell what the general public think about issues related to

a policy or to the electoral candidates under the given condition that people are given the

opportunity for extensive reflection and the access to information. It may be comparative to the

lottery method in Athens Democracy or the concept of electoral college in U.S.A. or even the

citizens’ juries.

In conclusion, Deliberative Democracy emphasizes debate and deliberation among people prior to

making a political decision such as the reconciliation in accordance with a plan proposed by either

party or the decision-making in the electoral voting. Deliberative Democracy realizes the

weaknesses in the Representative Democracy that most people do not have time or opportunity to

debate on the advantages and disadvantages of any policy which is presented by the political sector

without exchanging opinions with people in the community. Besides, people are not given the

opportunity to question the background and justification for such policy as well as the feasibility

including the consequences in the implementation of the policy.

Currently, we can apply Deliberative Democracy to the Thai societies at the local and the national

levels where fragmentations are prevalent. I am of the opinion that, had the concept of Deliberative

Democracy been applied, the political tragedy over the past few years would not have occurred.
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It is not too late to adopt the concept of Deliberative Democracy in solving the problem of

polarization in the Thai society and of spouse-oriented parliament that presently exist.

The concept of Deliberative Democracy is rather new. It may be but not too difficult to

understand if we make efforts. Isn’t it ?

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