The Army and Football: Frozen Perception of the Thai Royal Army amid Changes of Thai Society (from the mid of 1940s to the 2010s)

Abstract

Through historical approach, This article, titled “The Army and Football: Frozen Perception of the Thai Royal Army amid Changes of Thai Society (from the mid of 1940s to the 2010s)”,  proposes to investigate,  Football Clubs of the Thai Royal Army in the time of political, economic, and social changes in Thai society for over a half of the century. The research reveals that the Thai Royal Army has long been involved in Football Clubs especially during the time of the Cold War from the mid of the 1940s to the early 1990s. At the time the army played significant roles in Thai political sphere, football became a tool to represent the institution by joining football tournaments all over the country. Exercising through authoritarianism, patronage, and advantages of being a governmental institution, the Thai Royal Army succeeded to run its football clubs. However, as political, economic, and social conditions in Thai society have changed, to be exacted, growing of democracy and capitalism since the 1990s onwards, the Thai Royal Army has experienced difficulties in managing its clubs. Contrary to an international way of improving and managing professional football clubs around the globe, the Thai Royal Army’s policies on its football clubs remain unchanged, which causes its constant failure. This situation reveals a lack of resilience and adjustment of the Thai Royal Army in the time of great transition in the society.