The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXIV, Part 1-2, 1976 - Khamkoo

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with respect to change, equalitarianism, and tolerance, along a "Liberal­
Conservative Scale" and these are then correlated with age, educational
experience, and inter-genera tiona! mobility. Chapter 5 consists of a
discussion of the role of the bureaucratic elite in facilitating modernization
with reference to the three values discussed earlier. The author
also criticises the National Development Plans of Thailand as being too
concerned with purely economic factors at the expense of the development
of political participation, which is one of the core criteria in his
definition of modernization. Nevertheless the author is forced to
recognize that in the light of the power of the military in Thailand
"Political participation and the democratic process are antithetical to
the existing political power structure." {p. 54.) He argues that "economic
development without the development of a participant political structure
cannot lead to a viable political system and is likely to lead to political
instability." (p. 57.) Nonetheless the author is hopeful in his opinion
that the "substantial number of liberal members of the bureaucratic
elite suggests that there is a potential for a change of the strate!J.Y of
modernization ... " {p. 60)
Finally, in his conclusion he reviews his
findings and outlines a strategy of political development by means of
a combination of elite groups under a strong leader. In the absence of
any cbarismatic leader be calls for a strong and progressive dictator
like Sarit Thanarat. "The party wbich consists of a coalition of elites
under a strong benevolent dictator would perform two functions:
solidarity and participation through membership," (p. 69.) that is;•
"participant political culture" would be developed among the grass-roots
to stimulate political consciousness as a preparation for the institution
of some eventual democratic competitive party system.
The somewhat grandiose title of the work bears little relation to
the empirical study contained within it. Dr. Likbit attempted to use
ninety-six informants {predominantly male and Buddhist) of high rank
in three ministries, be obtained answers to his questionnaire from fifty-six
of which he was able to use fifty-two. The disadvantage of working
with such a small group is aptly illustrated in the discussion of the
backgraund of members of the Ministry of Interior when the author
relates that "the number of the elite who are from families of the