The politics of becoming a top bureaucrat in the Thai bureaucracy
- Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, dec. 2010
"Top bureaucrats" refers to career officials who assume the most powerful positions in their respective government agencies. They become permanent secretaries of ministries, the army commander-in-chief, the national police chief, directors and secretary-generals of agencies, and CEO's of state enterprises, autonomous public organisations and the like. When senior bureaucrats jockey for top positions, they play politics. In examining this aspect of politics and the bureaucracy, it is pertinent to address the following interrelated questions. How and why does a senior bureaucrat rise to the top in the Thai bureaucracy? Is it a merit process, or is it largely the work of politics? These questions underpin the discussion and provide a basis for further extensive research into the political strictures and dynamics involved.