• First study in English to analyse in detail the position of women in Thai politics.

• The study subjects various dimensions of women and politics in Thailand to both theoretical and empirical scrutiny; in so doing, it draws together into one volume previously fragmented research in this field.

This edited volume, including contributions from some of the leading scholars in the field, addresses the challenges, obstacles and opportunities for increased women’s political representation in Thailand. Will Thai politics be different with an increase in the number of women politicians? What are the possibilities for Thai women to take proactive initiatives that aim to transform Thai politics into being more gender aware and equal? In seeking to address these and related issues, the analysis brings together a complex interplay of factors, such as traditional Thai views of gender and politics; the national and local political context of the new Thai constitution of 1997; and recent experiences of selected women politicians in the legislative and executive branches of Thai government.

Contents
Introduction (Kazuki Iwanaga)
Overview of the Thai Social-Cultural Perspective on Women in Politics (Juree Vichit-Vadakan)
Women as Political Leaders: A Case Study (Khunying Supatra Masdit)
Women and Equality in Thai-Style Democracy (Kornvipa Boonsue)
Women’s Representation in Parlia-ment: Obstacles and Political Content in Comparative Perspective (Kazuki Iwanaga)
Patterns of Women’s Voting Behaviour (Amporn Tamronglak)
Women in the Bureaucracy (Supin Kachacupt)
Does Political Decentralization Give Women More Space and Power in Local Politics? (Orathai Kokpol)
The Role of NGOs in Promoting the Advancement of Women in Politics (Suteera Vichitranonda and Meytinee Bhongsavej)
Women Politicians’ Views About Corruption in Thai Politics (Marjorie Suriyamongkol and Amalin Sundaravej)
Challenges and Opportunities for Using the Beijing Platform for Action in Thai Politics (Marjorie Suriyamongkol)
Concluding Remarks (Kazuki Iwanaga and Marjorie Suriyamongkol)
Index