นโยบายสาธารณะ: ฟันเฟืองขับเคลื่อนสังคม | Pita Limjaroenrat | TEDxThammasatU

Summary

In this speech, the speaker reflects on their 30-year political journey, from a young student in New Zealand to becoming the leader of Thailand's second-largest opposition party. They discuss their passion for political reform, including efforts to change policies related to education, the military, and environmental issues. The speaker introduces the 'LLC Framework' to explain what separates successful policies from failed ones. With examples like the equal marriage law and alcohol industry reforms, they highlight how strategic law-making, public support, and coalition-building can lead to meaningful change. The speaker concludes by urging everyone to embrace their inner change agent.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker realized their passion for politics at the age of 12 when they moved to New Zealand and was influenced by discussions on political policies.
• 😀 They were inspired by the New Zealand Prime Minister, Jim Berger, and the way political policies could bring change to people's lives, which sparked their interest in politics.
• 😀 Over the past 30 years, the speaker has moved from being a student in New Zealand to becoming the leader of Thailand's second-largest opposition party.
• 😀 The speaker's educational background, including their studies at Thammasat University and a Master's degree in the United States, shaped their understanding of public policy and governance.
• 😀 The speaker faced challenges in their early years as an MP, such as pushing for progressive policies while navigating the complex Thai political landscape.
• 😀 Key political goals included reforming the military's influence in politics, decentralizing power from Bangkok, and tackling monopolies to make it easier for small businesses to thrive.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of the 'LLC Framework' in successfully passing public policies, focusing on Legal correctness, Legitimacy, and Coalition-building.
• 😀 Legal correctness (L1) ensures that policies align with the Constitution and existing laws. Without this, even well-supported policies cannot pass.
• 😀 Legitimacy (L2) is about ensuring the public is ready for change and that there is effective communication with citizens, addressing concerns of opposition.
• 😀 Coalition-building (C) involves understanding how to gain support from key stakeholders and ensuring enough political allies are aligned to pass the policy.
• 😀 Examples of successful policies include the Gender Equality Marriage Law and the Progressive Alcohol Law, which were both driven by the LLC Framework, incorporating legal clarity, public legitimacy, and coalition support.
• 😀 The speaker believes that personal passion and commitment, combined with a well-structured policy framework, can drive real societal change, encouraging others to use these tools to create impact in their own fields.

Q & A

How did the speaker's interest in politics begin?

The speaker developed an interest in politics at the age of 12 while studying in New Zealand. At that time, social media was not prevalent, and he was influenced by the political discussions he overheard from the housekeeper, who was a political enthusiast. This sparked his curiosity about political processes and public policies.

What significant experiences shaped the speaker's political career?

The speaker's political career was shaped by several key experiences: his education at Thammasat University, where he learned about public service, his master's degree in the United States, and his role as a first-time MP after the dissolution of the Future Forward Party. These experiences gave him a deep understanding of public policy and governance.

What were some of the challenges the speaker faced in his political career?

The speaker faced significant challenges during his first term as an MP, including difficulties in pushing for progressive policies, such as military reform, government accountability, educational reform, and environmental changes. Despite his efforts, not all of these initiatives succeeded.

What is the 'Missing Part' framework mentioned in the speech?

The 'Missing Part' framework refers to the elements that differentiate successful public policies from failed ones. The framework consists of three components: legality (alignment with the constitution and other laws), legitimacy (society's readiness for change and communication with the public), and coalition-building (creating support within the political system).

Why did some of the speaker's policies fail despite political will?

Some policies failed because they did not meet the 'Missing Part' criteria. For example, despite strong political will, the policies on pension reform and military separation from politics failed due to legal issues or lack of sufficient coalition support in parliament.

How does the speaker explain the concept of legitimacy in the success of policies?

Legitimacy is crucial for policy success. It involves ensuring that the society is prepared for change, that the policy has been communicated effectively to the public, and that there are answers prepared for opposing viewpoints. Without legitimacy, even well-designed policies may fail to gain public or political support.

Can you explain the significance of coalition-building in the political process?

Coalition-building is essential because, in a parliamentary system, policies cannot pass without the support of enough legislators. The speaker highlights the importance of understanding why certain MPs support or oppose a policy and working to build alliances, even with political opponents, to ensure the policy's success.

What are the two successful policies mentioned in the speech?

The two successful policies discussed are the same-sex marriage law (marriage equality) and the progressive alcohol law reform. Both policies used the 'Missing Part' framework, focusing on legal clarity, legitimacy, and coalition-building to gain support and pass through the legislature.

How was the same-sex marriage policy promoted in the speech?

The same-sex marriage policy was promoted by simplifying the legal language, changing the definition of marriage from 'man and woman' to 'person and person.' The policy's success also came from its emotional appeal, with the campaign using public figures, like a former dance teacher, to make the policy more relatable and accessible.

What role did the speaker's party play in the successful policies?

The speaker's party played a central role in pushing for these successful policies. For instance, the same-sex marriage policy was driven by a former dance teacher turned politician, and the alcohol law reform was championed by a party member with personal experience in the issue. Their efforts helped create the necessary coalition and public support to pass these laws.