Search
Program Calendar
Browse By Day
Browse By Time
Browse By Person
Browse By Room
Browse By Area of Study
Browse By Session Type
Browse By Discipline
Search Tips
AAS 2017 Print Program (coming soon)
Personal Schedule
Sign In
Since the end of the 20th century, Thailand has been engulfed in a multitude of governance challenge, ranging from political turmoil, widespread government corruption, social inequality, and uneven economic development between urban and rural areas. In an attempt to tackle these challenges, two key reform efforts were adopted: decentralization of public service functions to the local level and creation of constitutional oversight agencies, such as the Public Finance Audit Commission (PFAC). We argue that these constitutional independent agencies designed to root out government corruption have hindered the decentralization process by empowering the national government agencies at the expense of local governments. Apart from this recentralization trend, these independent agencies have revealed weaknesses in Thailand's governance system. In our paper, special attention will be given to the PFAC’s role in overseeing the rabies prevention efforts at the local level. Coinciding with the spread of anti-politician sentiment after the 2006 military coup d’état, the PFAC has become increasingly strict in its interpretation of local governments’ discretionary authority and autonomy. Our paper will discuss how the PFAC has disrupted decentralization and the country's rabies control and prevention campaign.