POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY IN A COUP: A CONTROVERSY OVER THE LEGLTIMACY OF A COUP SEPTEMBER 19, 2006

Abstract

Coups are phenomena that occur in tandem with the democratization process in Thai society. The coup has been a constant presence since the establishment of democracy. Therefore, this paper has two objectives: 1) to study the legitimacy of the September 19, 2006 coup, and 2) to analyze the factors contributing to the rise to power, retention, and termination of power of the September 19, 2006 coup d'état. Using the method of explanation and analysis through the political philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli, it was found that 1) the claim of legitimacy of the September 19, 2006 coup is based on the legitimacy of the coup through the monarchy and the legal system as a source of legitimacy, and 2) the factors contributing to the rise to power are the diminishment of the legitimacy of the elected government in response to the upcoming coup. The result was a weakening of the anti-coup faction and a strong coup d'état that dominated the entire government. On the part of maintaining power. The coup d'état purged and eliminated the old power poles through the creation of a new constitution, and the end of power was the indecisive elimination of the old powers, allowing the old ones to return to political power through the electoral field.