Since the 1932 Revolution, the military has been the strongest and most cohesive institution in Thailand, allowing it to position itself as the guardian of stability and the protector of the monarchy. Because the modern Thai state was built with heavy military involvement, its political role became embedded from the very beginning.
The military has been active in the modern era since the 1932 Revolution which marked the end of absolute monarchy
After 1932, civilian institutions were weak, while the military was the most cohesive and structured organization nationally.
The military’s strength allowed it to:
Establish itself as the nation’s stability
Claim to be the defender of the monarchy
Become the arbiter in times of national crisis
Ultimately, the modern state of Thailand was effectively co-built by the military. This structurally embedded the military in its political role since the beginning.
References:
Baker, Chris, and Pasuk Phongpaichit. A History of Thailand. Cambridge University Press, 2014.
Thak Chaloemtiarana. Thailand: The Politics of Despotic Paternalism. Cornell University Press, 2007.
McCargo, Duncan. “Network Monarchy and Legitimacy Crises in Thailand.” The Pacific Review 18, no. 4 (2005): 499–519.
Handley, Paul M. The King Never Smiles. Yale University Press, 2006.
Chambers, Paul, and Napisa Waitoolkiat. Khaki Capital: The Political Economy of the Military in Southeast Asia. NIAS Press, 2017.