Following the referendum held earlier this year, in which a majority of voters supported drafting a new constitution, unlocking the process of constitutional amendment.
At the same time, constitutional reform remains a key issue that requires sustained collective efforts. The Constitution not only defines the political structure and allocation of governing power, but also plays an important role in decentralisation, economic development, and shaping the country’s long-term democratic direction.
🤝 Against this backdrop, on 26 October, the Institute of Democratization Studies (iDS) and the Faculty of Political Science at Burapha University, with the support from Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Thailand Office, organised a policy dialogue entitled “Designing the Future of the Constitution: Strengthening Democracy, Empowering Local Governments, and Laying the Foundation for Economic Transformation.” The event brought together participants from diverse sectors to share experiences of previous constitutional reform efforts and exchange perspectives on the direction of Thailand’s current constitutional amendment process, including key issues that warrant consideration.
📚 The morning session opened with a discussion entitled “From Democratic Experience to Constitutional Reform: Citizens’ Rights, Public Participation, and the Role of Local Government,” featuring reflections on significant events in Thai political history through the perspectives of academics, civil society organizations, and individuals involved in the democracy movement.
🏛️ In the afternoon, the discussion entitled “Designing Thailand's Constitutional Future: From Constitutional Reform to Democratic Governance and National Competitiveness” examined how constitutional amendment can address current democratic, social and economic challenges. The discussion focused on three key areas: decentralisation, economic growth, and political institutions.
The dialogue marked an important step towards gathering perspectives and recommendations from diverse stakeholders to identify approaches to constitutional reform that strengthen democracy, local governance, and a resilient economy. Insights from the discussions will be developed into proceedings and policy recommendations to be submitted to the Constitutional Drafting Committee once it is established for its consideration.
