Today’s Nation reports:
Noranit Setabutr, former secretary-general of King Prajadhipok’s Institute, was elected chairman of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) Monday.
New Mandala is pleased to announce that Noranit has connections with the Australian National University. For some years there have been links between the Centre for Democratic Institutions at the ANU and King Prajadhipok’s Institute. The CDI website provides a summary of one collaborative activity:
For a number of years King Prajadhipok’s Institute of Thailand has been one of CDI major partners in the region. While KPI has an extensive program in consolidating Thailand’s democracy, it also has the ambition of reaching out to neighbouring countries striving to establish systems of democratic governance. In this regard, KPI, with support from CDI, organised a regional workshop on participatory public policy formulation and invited 18 regional participants to attend. The President of the Senate of Thailand, H. E. Mr. Suchon Chaleekure, gave the opening address, KPI President Noranit Setabutr welcomed participants and CDI Director Roland Rich [ex-ambassador to Laos] delivered the first substantive presentation analysing public service systems in the region.
And in February 2006 Noranit presented an informal seminar on Thailand’s pre-coup political crisis at the ANU. (If you look at this photo of the event you will see half of me at the far left.) I can’t lay my hands on my notes from the seminar right now, but I do recall that it contained the usual critical Bangkok commentary on Thaksin’s populist policies. I think I asked Noranit why he didn’t just refer to them as “popular policies.”
Let’s wait and see if any of this Australian exposure finds even a faint echo in the constitution drafting process. There may be some relevant lessons relating to respect for the electoral process. After all, in Australia we have had to learn to put up with a long-serving Prime Minister who is vehemently rejected by many (including myself) in the chattering classes.
As usual New Mandala would welcome any readers’ insights into the mind of Noranit Setabutr.
7 responses so far ↓
1 anonymous // Jan 8, 2007 at 9:27 pm
He did his PhD in political science at Columbia University during the 1960’s, at a time of major student unrest. I believe (although I’m not 100% certain) that he was at Columbia when radical students took over the place.
However, like many Thai academics of that era (e.g., Juree Vichit-Vadakan, who did her BA, MA, and PhD at UC Berkeley during the 1960’s but is today an advisor to the junta), he didn’t let the progressivism of his American classmates affect his personal political views.
His reputation at Thammasat was as a politically well-linked politico/administrator, not as an academic per se. He made himself useful to the powers that be, no matter who they were.
He never made a name for himself for his academic work or research – after 40 years, he is still just an associate professor, having never made it to full professorship. I don’t think he’s ever had an article published in a refereed academic journal – at least not recently.
Compare this against the architects of the 1997 constitution: Chai-anand Samudavajiva, Amorn Chantarasomboon, Bowornsak Uwanno, and the rest of the Institute for Public Policy Studies (IPPS) bunch. Their views on public participation and constitutionalism were very well known through extensive academic work and advocacy, and it was no surprise to anyone how the 1997 constitution turned out.
I suspect Noranit will write whatever his masters tell him to write.
2 polo // Jan 9, 2007 at 2:30 am
“While KPI has an extensive program in consolidating Thailand’s democracy … ”
I thought KPI (and those joint IPPS-KPI folks like Chia-anan) was dedicate to furthering only the royalist view of democracy, and that while public participation draws their interest, building rule of law and equality under it has not been equally highlighted.
3 Srithanonchai // Jan 9, 2007 at 2:34 am
Noranit does not have a PhD from Columbia University, nor from any other university. He is authoritarian, insists on his seniority, dislikes foreigners, and has neither a preference for democratic behavior nor for good governance. As Chermsak Pinthong said in today’s Bangkok Post: Noranit is “not outstanding.” As “anonymous” indicated, Noranit is not a scholar, but rather a politically inclined administrator. However, his surname is well-known, and he was recently, at the age of 65, appointed to the Royal Institute. One should note that Noranit was elected chairperson of the CDA only. Who will chair the 35-member constitution drafting committee is still open. Yet, a few cronies of Noranit will sure make it to that outfit.
4 anonymous // Jan 9, 2007 at 10:07 am
Let me clarify: Noranit was studying at Columbia in the late 60’s or early 70’s. He was a roon phee to some Thai graduate students there, so I presumed that he was doing a PhD. I might have been wrong about him completing a PhD.
My opinion of him is that he’s the Pointy Haird Boss-types who was promoted to administrative positions because he lacked the willingness or capability to do research or teaching.
5 Colum // Jan 9, 2007 at 11:38 am
his history for the confused… http://www.tu.ac.th/overview/admin/exec/22.noranit/Prof.Noranit%20Setabutr.htm
6 Srithanonchai // Jan 9, 2007 at 2:26 pm
A piece of additional information re “anon.” : Noranit Setabutr. 1971. “The Role of the Military in Thailand, 1958-1970.” Bangkok: Praeppittaya. 133 pp. According to the author’s forword, this book was originally presented as a “thesis” at Occidental College, Los Angeles, 1970.
7 Srithanonchai // Jan 9, 2007 at 2:33 pm
And yet another addition on Noranit’s educational history, this time including a reference to Columbia University: 1965 Diploma in Sovietology, Freiburg University, Switzerland. 1967-1970 M.A. in Diplomacy and World Affairs Occidental College, U.S.A. 1972-1975 M.A. in Comparative Politics,Columbia University
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