Thais can learn from US politics, says academic

"Each [country's] history has its own development and it doesn't just happen in a vacuum," Thanet said.

 Thanet, who gave a talk on US elections at Thammasat yesterday, cited freedom of expression in the US as resulting from the struggle for religious freedom which is rooted in America's birth.

 "Thailand doesn't have such a history. So freedom of expression in Thailand has never been such a big issue. And that's also why Thai democracy revolves around those with privilege and power."

 While many Thais, including Thanet, rejoiced in witnessing Americans electing their first bi-racial president, Thanet said the triumph for the US political system through the victory of Barack Obama also raised a question about where Thai electoral democracy was heading.

 "What happened to democracy in Thailand? Where has its beauty disappeared? All we see is fearful things," he said, in reference to the deep political division and confrontation that have paralysed the kingdom for half a year now.

 Thanet maintained however that electoral right, a subject now fiercely debated after the espousing of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy's (PAD) idea of "New Politics," should be understood as part of a class struggle where those less privileged will have to fight for their continued right to vote.