ABSTRACT
Thailand has experienced frequent changes in its national government over the past 70 years, while the rapid economic growth of the 1970s and 1980s that was halted so dramatically by the 1997 Asian financial crisis has resumed once again. The 1997 constitution, through its reform of the electoral system and the establishment of a range of institutions such as the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC), the Constitutional Court, and the Office of the Ombudsman, provides an institutional framework to support principles of good governance. Major public administration challenges include the implementation of public service reforms such as decentralization, a continuous battle against corruption at all levels, ensuring a free media, and facilitating the further development of Thailand's civil society.
