ABSTRACT
The military junta abrogated the constitution, dissolved parliament and the government, and imposed martial law throughout the kingdom. Empirically, there have been signs in the immediate situation which suggest that the bureaucratic polity, or at least a pure form of it, has not come back. The military junta undoubtedly reigns supreme at the moment through its appointment and control of the prime minister and members of the legislature in the new regime. However, people with a nonbureaucratic, particularly business, background are substantially represented in the cabinet and the legislative assembly. Business is an indispensable partner of the military-bureaucratic leaders in administering the country for the time being. While the coup tells that the military-bureaucratic force is alive and well, the make-up of the post-coup regime reminds us that even an emergency rule of an authoritarian nature cannot do without extra- bureaucratic forces, particularly business.
