Building a political power base of the Thai Navy during 2475-2495

Abstract

The purpose of this research article was to study the building of the navy's political power base during 1932 - 1951. This was the qualitative research using document data and in-depth interviews with two population groups, namely military group and academic group. A purposive sampling of four individuals was selected. The research instruments used document collection and interview forms. Descriptive data analysis was used. The results of this research found that the navy built political power base during 1932 – 1951 by establishing a network within a group of young navy officers, some of whom were colleagues and others who were disciples of Luang Sin Songkhramchai. They also built networks through individuals with close ties to members of this group to form the naval Khana Ratsadon (People's Party). This group controlled the navy's personnel. After the successful change of government, these naval officers rose to important positions in the navy and established patronage relationships with other political groups, namely the groups of Field Marshal P. Phibunsongkhram and Pridi Banomyong, who provided political support to each other as co-creators of the country's political change. This led to political conflicts that led to suspicion of the navy under Field Marshal P. Phibunsongkhram's government, leading to the end of the navy's political power base after the Manhattan Rebellion of 1951.