The analysis of policy implementation effectiveness on national security policy in southernmost provinces of thailand

Abstract

This research study utilized policy implementation theories and models to test the factors affecting national security policy implementation effectiveness in the three Southernmost provinces of Thailand, namely Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. The objective of this study is to investigate the major factors which influence the effectiveness of the implementation of the National Security Policy, which is concerned with maintaining peace and order in the three provinces. The units of analysis of this study were the government officers as the implementers and the local people of the region. The government officers were the personnel in the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 (ISOC4) and the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC), which are the key implementing agencies of the National Security Policy. This study applied both a quantitative and qualitative approach to gain more comprehensive and meaningful findings. The questionnaires were used for the analysis of a conceptual framework which consisted of six independent variables: the clarity of policy objectives; the attitude of implementers to comply with the policy; the level of institutional trust; the knowledge of implementing agencies; inter-organizational cooperation; and adequacy of needed resource. The qualitative approach was used for the analysis of one variable, which is public support. To ascertain factors affecting the effectiveness of the implementation of the National Security Policy, the multiple regression analysis (MRA) method and indepth interviews were employed.

The findings accepted two proposed hypotheses which were that policy objectives and institutional trust had a positive and significant effect on national security policy implementation effectiveness. Moreover, the result from the qualitative approach revealed that to implement the policy, support from mass media, local academicians, local politicians, and local civil society organization networks also had an effect on national security policy implementation effectiveness in the three Southernmost provinces of Thailand. They are insiders who understand the local context and are able to generate cooperation from diverse sectors and local networks.

This research contributes to a better understanding of the major factors and obstacles toward the implementation of the National Security Policy, which is concerned with maintaining peace and order in the three Southernmost provinces of Thailand. Furthermore, the results provide a theoretical contribution to the field of policy implementation in such a way that the application of any policy implementation models should strongly consider the policy objectives, institutional trust and local conditions that might affect implementation.