Course Overview
This seminar is designed for foreign professionals seeking a deeper understanding of Thailand’s political and constitutional system. It offers rare insight into the country’s governance architecture, institutional logic, and the informal mechanisms that shape power and political interaction — with a comprehensive perspective on the past, present, and likely future trajectories.
Participants will explore the fundamental concepts, historical developments, and current dynamics of Thai politics — including the shifting allocation of power, the workings and evolution of the constitutional framework, key actors and institutions, and the normative principles underpinning constitutional and political life. The course enables participants to analyze current developments with greater nuance, anticipate future scenarios, and engage with the Thai political context in a more informed, confident, and context-sensitive manner.
Hardly any other program matches this course in terms of analytical depth, practical relevance, and precision in preparing foreign professionals for work related to Thai constitutional politics. It features a carefully designed curriculum grounded in over 15 years of close interaction with Thai institutions and more than two decades of academic engagement with the subject. The program adopts a balanced, respectful, and experience-based approach, while providing space for open discussion, critical questions, and the exchange of perspectives.
Course Outcomes
Upon completion, participants will:
- Understand Thailand’s political and constitutional foundations and their historical evolution;
- Identify key institutions, power centers, and rule-making logics;
- Analyze current developments within a coherent conceptual and institutional framework;
- Interpret political signals and institutional behavior with greater nuance;
- Gain foresight into possible scenarios and future trajectories of Thai politics; and
- Engage more effectively with Thai institutions and actors.
Course Content
The seminar is organized into three intellectually stimulating and analytically rich thematic blocks. Each block provides space for individual questions, critical discussion, and practical reflection:
1.Evolution, Core Concepts, and Interpretive Frameworks
- Historical development of Thailand’s political and constitutional system
- Collective identities, guiding values, and state narratives
- Competing notions of legitimacy and political order
- Key conceptual lenses: power, influence, morality, violence, and leadership
2. Constitutional and Political Institutions, Actors, and Norms
- The hegemonic social contract and constitutional identity — and their contestations
- Formal governance structures, constitutional mandates, and institutional constraints
- Informal power arrangements, elite networks, and actor alignments
- Political parties, the military, monarchy, judiciary, and civil society
3. Current Political Developments and Future Trajectories
- Thailand’s political present in regional and global context
- Strategic challenges, institutional fault lines, and systemic tensions
- Scenario planning and foresight-based analysis of Thailand’s future political path
Target Group / Audience
This program is particularly well-suited for:
- Diplomats
- Professionals working in international or regional organizations
- Journalists and correspondents
- Practitioners in international NGOs and development cooperation
- Business and legal professionals engaging with Thai institutions
Format & Delivery
Course Duration: Total of 10.5 hours, delivered over three days (one thematic block per day)
Schedule:
- Days: Saturday, Sunday, and the following Saturday (starting from the announced course date)
- Daily timing: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Bangkok time)
- Includes an interactive coffee break
Delivery Mode: Live online format
Group Size / Participant Limit: 5–12 participants
Language of Instruction: English
Customization Options
This course can be customized to meet the specific needs of companies, organizations, or professional groups already operating in Thailand. Upon request, it can be delivered:
- In-house for individual companies or institutions, tailored to internal leadership structures and team dynamics;
- With a special focus on institutional engagement, for organizations that regularly interact with Thai public authorities, regulatory bodies, or state-owned partners;
- With an additional module on Thailand’s political and legal system, offering a long-range socio-historical perspective on how law, bureaucracy, and power are structured and experienced in Thai society; and
- In German, if preferred by the client or participants.
For institutional clients or in-house formats, a separate pricing agreement is made to reflect the specific scope, structure, and customization of the program.
Pricing Structure
The standard course fees are:
- Full Price: EUR 789.00
- Early Bird Rate: EUR 629.00 (for registrations completed at least four weeks prior to the course start date)
Discounted rates may be granted to non-commercial clients, such public institutions (e.g., foreign diplomatic missions, ministries, national agencies, academic institutions), non-governmental organizations (e.g., advocacy groups, humanitarian organizations), and international organizations (e.g., United Nations bodies, regional organizations).
All prices are subject to applicable VAT.
About the Series
Other Courses in the Same Series
Questions? Get in touch with our team at:
Venus Phuangkom
Event & HR Manager, Project Coordinator
executive.education@cpg-online.de
Lucas Meier
Project Manager
lucas.meier@cpg-online.de