Comments on: The electoral importance of “support” http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/03/08/the-electoral-importance-of-support/ New perspectives on mainland Southeast Asia Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:28:26 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: nganadeeleg http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/03/08/the-electoral-importance-of-support/comment-page-1/#comment-54754 nganadeeleg Fri, 23 Mar 2007 22:45:17 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/03/08/the-electoral-importance-of-support/#comment-54754 Shawn Crispin's recent article in Asia Times makes some interesting observations: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/IC23Ae01.html Is Thaksin really a spent force, politically? Shawn Crispin’s recent article in Asia Times makes some interesting observations:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/IC23Ae01.html

Is Thaksin really a spent force, politically?

]]> By: Srithanonchai http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/03/08/the-electoral-importance-of-support/comment-page-1/#comment-42791 Srithanonchai Thu, 08 Mar 2007 05:55:17 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/03/08/the-electoral-importance-of-support/#comment-42791 If we move away from the concept of "culture" (as the structure of talk amongst people) to motivational factors that might lead voters to their “choices,” we probably will encounter motivational mixes that might include factors such as (just a preliminary list) the knowledge of compulsory voting (importance of “no vote” votes); campaigning by the candidates; various kinds of social ties (being a family member, a relative, a friend, a client, a follower, an employee, a phuak member); trust in the superior knowledge of respected position holders; the baramee of an important local figure; intimidation; social pressure in the polling station; patronage; the work of hua khanaen; vote buying; the availability of local political party structures and activities; preferences concerning political parties (be they centered on party ideology, a charismatic leader, or government policies that benefited the voters); or political marketing and control of the mass media. If we move away from the concept of “culture” (as the structure of talk amongst people) to motivational factors that might lead voters to their “choices,” we probably will encounter motivational mixes that might include factors such as (just a preliminary list) the knowledge of compulsory voting (importance of “no vote” votes); campaigning by the candidates; various kinds of social ties (being a family member, a relative, a friend, a client, a follower, an employee, a phuak member); trust in the superior knowledge of respected position holders; the baramee of an important local figure; intimidation; social pressure in the polling station; patronage; the work of hua khanaen; vote buying; the availability of local political party structures and activities; preferences concerning political parties (be they centered on party ideology, a charismatic leader, or government policies that benefited the voters); or political marketing and control of the mass media.

]]> By: Srithanonchai http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/03/08/the-electoral-importance-of-support/comment-page-1/#comment-42667 Srithanonchai Thu, 08 Mar 2007 04:13:01 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/03/08/the-electoral-importance-of-support/#comment-42667 Localism (introductory statement): All right -- "localism" is one theme of political culture (culture here understood, following Luhmann, as a collection of themes to be used in communication), but there are other themes in this collection as well that might in one way or another contribute to the final voting decision. It is not only that social life is too complex to be limited to only one theme. More important probably is that humans operate on meaning. Maybe, a look into the chapter "Meaning" in "Social Systems" (Niklas Luhmann, Stanford 1995) can help clarifying some conceptual issues. Localism (introductory statement): All right — “localism” is one theme of political culture (culture here understood, following Luhmann, as a collection of themes to be used in communication), but there are other themes in this collection as well that might in one way or another contribute to the final voting decision.

It is not only that social life is too complex to be limited to only one theme. More important probably is that humans operate on meaning. Maybe, a look into the chapter “Meaning” in “Social Systems” (Niklas Luhmann, Stanford 1995) can help clarifying some conceptual issues.

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