From a Political to an ‘Ideological’ Machine: A Case Study of the 2023 General Election, Phitsanulok Province

Abstract

This research article aims to study the Phitsanulok political movements and behaviors of a political machine in terms of voter mobilization in the year 2023. Research data were collected by a qualitative research method, including documentary research, in-depth interviews of 19 key informants who were involved as a political machine, including participant and non-participant observations. Research findings showed that Thai structural changes (political economy landscape), institutional change (constitutional amendments and a new electoral system), and technological change (social media) connected all political actors in an electoral process into a closer relation. This led to transformative political behaviors of the political machine of Phitsanulok, from personal favoritism, beneficial reciprocity, and patronage system into upholding political ideologies and party favoritism. However, the political machine did not fade away; it adjusted its operations and processes. As a result, the election in Phitsanulok province in 2023 had changed the political machine into the voter mobilization based on the ideology contestation between conservatism and liberalism, at both local and national levels. Each party and its representatives had opportunities to create an 'open' political space that had not been taken by any political groups.