With Thailand’s national elections scheduled in just six weeks, a recent op-ed piece in The Nation, one of Thailand’s leading daily English-language newspapers, focuses on the role of luck in the development of democracy in the Kingdom. The column, “‘Lucky’ Thailand Must Not Give Up on Democracy” by Nophakun Limsamarnphun, includes extensive quotes from David Lyman, Chairman & Chief Values Officer of Tilleke & Gibbins.

Drawing on content from his recent Viewpoint – The Political Scene in Thailand: Pre-Election Observations, the column cites David’s view that Thailand “always seems to eventually land on its feet after dealing with adversity piled upon adversity. . . . Is Thailand still a paradise? The answer is yes for many but not for all, particularly the poor, both rural and urban, some of the sick, the elderly and children.” He also notes, “Thais will eventually do the right thing after they have exhausted all other possibilities. Though this appears to the contrary and except for a detour here and there, Thai politics is certainly heading towards the right direction with regard to addressing the country’s ills and misfortunes and healing its wounds.”