Abstract
This chapter investigates the current e-government and ICT policy in Thailand from an actor-centered perspective. It reviews existing literature on e-government implementation, while looking into the interaction of government institutions and citizens. It seeks to answer questions, such as the following: What are the key actors in driving the implementation of e-government policies in Thailand? How do Thai citizens perceive e-government efforts and ICT policy implementation especially in the context of present military government power? What are some of the risk factors typically embedded in e-government initiatives and policies implemented in Thailand? Some scholars specifically emphasize the key role of central government institutions in driving the e-government and ICT policy implementation pointing at its readiness to transform toward E-Government 4.0. These observations notwithstanding, issues related to the often-omitted crucial role of citizens and local customers in driving policy implementation and the problem of digital divide remain across much of the developing world.
Top1. Introduction
Thailand, along with other nations of the South East Asian region e.g. Indonesia, largely remains at an early stage both of e-government policy implementation (e.g. Mirchandani et al. 2008; Sagarik et al. 2018; Hassan 2019) and engaging the public in policymaking and service delivery processes in general (OECD/ADB 2019). Thailand, however, still appears relatively better developed vis-à-vis some of its ASEAN neighboring states, such as the Philippines and Indonesia, in terms of basic infrastructure preparedness to facilitate e-government policy implementation efforts (Bukht & Heeks 2018), as outlined in Table 1.
Table 1. Thailand’s key indicators of ICT development vis-à-vis ASEAN states
| Country | ICT Development | Global IDI Ranking | Total Mobile Penetration | Unique Mobile Subscribers | 3G + 4G | Smartphone |
| Thailand | 4.8 | 74 | 122% | 85.47% | 82.47% | 58.98% |
| Indonesia | 3.8 | 108 | 126% | 58.43% | 40.48% | 40.37% |
| Singapore | 7.9 | 19 | 145% | 71.52% | 63.14% | 78.16% |
| Malaysia | 5.2 | 64 | 142% | 76.1% | 60.3% | 64.63% |
| Philippines | 4.0 | 98 | 117% | 65.09% | 44.74% | 40.9% |
| Vietnam | 4.1 | 102 | 152% | 49.66% | 36.48% | 27.84% |
Source: DTAC (n.d.), as cited in Bukht & Heeks (2018).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Thailand 4.0 Strategy: Is the keystone of Thailand 4.0 policy that seeks to transform the nation from a middle-income toward a value-based economy (Yoon 2016, as in Bukht & Heeks, 2018), by promoting innovation, technology-driven economic development, and a move from products-based to service-oriented economy.
Policy Implementation: Can be viewed as an “interaction between the setting of goals and actions geared to achieve them” (Pressman & Wildavsky 1973, p. xv). Implementation can be defined as one of the key stages in policymaking usually followed by evaluation.
Thai ID Card: A national government project aimed at issuing official government documents to Thai citizens aged between 7 and 70 (Wikipedia). It is largely viewed as an e-government failure case by scholars (e.g., Gunawong & Gao 2017).
IT National Plan: Is broadly defined as a central government document that seeks to enforce local agencies to implement the e-government development policy (Chutimaskul 2002).
ICT: Information and communications technology is a term that stresses the role of unified communications and integration of telecommunications and computers that allow users to access, store and share information (Wikipedia). ICT can be defined as a facilitating factor to propel national economic, social development and to improve competitiveness as applied to Thai context (Thuvasethakul & Koanantakool 2002).
E-Government Policy: Can be defined as a tool employed by central government authorities to facilitate the Thailand’s transformation towards becoming a knowledge-based society (Lorsuwannarat 2006).