Military Control and Perceived Levels of Corruption: A Study of Thailand

This thesis aims to understand how military coups and control have affected the perceived levels of corruption within Thailand from 2011 to 2021. High levels of corruption in previous governments have been used as justification for military coups and control, yet no existing empirical evidence has demonstrated that there is a decrease in corruption after military intervention. By utilizing a concurrent mixed methods approach, this thesis reveals the effects of military intervention on perceived levels of corruption. Quantitative data from Transparency International and the World Bank, for the years 1997 to 2021, are employed in a series of multivariate regressions. In addition, this thesis collects and analyzes qualitative surveys from 300 Thai nationals including interviews with 17 of these individuals. The thesis finds that, on average, military coups and controls are correlated with increased perceived levels of corruption within the country. Further, there is a generational effect: younger generations are more likely to view the Prayut Regime after the election as most corrupt, while older generations tend to view the Yingluck Regime as most corrupt. Finally, I recommend that there should be stricter enforcement of laws regarding corruption as well as increased transparency in government expenditures.