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Difference between revisions of "Sinnamjai (Thailand)"
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Moreover, ''sinnamjai'' is closely linked to powerful provincial strongmen (''pumeebarameenaichangwat''; ผู้มีบารมีในจังหวัด). Sawasdee (2006:32<ref> Sawasdee, S. 2006. ''Thai Political Parties in the Age of Reform''. Bangkok: Institute of Public Policy Studies</ref>) argues that a culture of political patronage is more commonly found in rural than in urban areas. Furthermore, Eiawsriwong (2017<ref> Eiawsriwong, N. 2017. ''Rabob upatham nai kanmuangthai'', Prachatai, 6 July (in Thai) https://prachatai.com/journal/2017/06/72194 | Moreover, ''sinnamjai'' is closely linked to powerful provincial strongmen (''pumeebarameenaichangwat''; ผู้มีบารมีในจังหวัด). Sawasdee (2006:32<ref> Sawasdee, S. 2006. ''Thai Political Parties in the Age of Reform''. Bangkok: Institute of Public Policy Studies</ref>) argues that a culture of political patronage is more commonly found in rural than in urban areas. Furthermore, Eiawsriwong (2017<ref> Eiawsriwong, N. 2017. ''Rabob upatham nai kanmuangthai'', Prachatai, 6 July (in Thai) https://prachatai.com/journal/2017/06/72194 | ||
</ref>) and Haas (1978:284-6<ref> Haas, D. F. 1978. ‘Clientelism and Rural Development in Thailand,’ ''Rural Sociology'', 43(4):280-92 | </ref>) and Haas (1978:284-6<ref> Haas, D. F. 1978. ‘Clientelism and Rural Development in Thailand,’ ''Rural Sociology'', 43(4):280-92 | ||
</ref>) see patronage networks as a channel leading to | </ref>) see patronage networks as a channel leading to resources and favours. Provincial strongmen who start their careers by building up public support as local politicians, satisfy their voters’ expectations by securing government funding for local development projects that benefit their constituents, and this in turn enables the politicians to build charismatic popularity (''baramee''; บารมี). Voters return the favour by voting for the politicians. | ||
Despite its similarity to pork-barrel politics (Sidman 2017<ref> Sidman, A. 2017. ‘[[Pork barreling]],’ Global Informality Project, 6 September, http://in-formality.com/wiki/index.php?title=Pork_barreling</ref>), such a phenomenon can be differently perceived when seen through the prism of ''sinnamjai''. The use of state funding to develop one’s own constituency can be portrayed as a provincial strongman showing his big-heartedness. Voters see it as morally acceptable for them to return the favour by casting their votes and expressing their loyalty. In this respect, ''sinnamjai''plays a crucial role in sustaining provincial strongmen’s popularity. | Despite its similarity to pork-barrel politics (Sidman 2017<ref> Sidman, A. 2017. ‘[[Pork barreling]],’ Global Informality Project, 6 September, http://in-formality.com/wiki/index.php?title=Pork_barreling</ref>), such a phenomenon can be differently perceived when seen through the prism of ''sinnamjai''. The use of state funding to develop one’s own constituency can be portrayed as a provincial strongman showing his big-heartedness. Voters see it as morally acceptable for them to return the favour by casting their votes and expressing their loyalty. In this respect, ''sinnamjai''plays a crucial role in sustaining provincial strongmen’s popularity. | ||