The new government of Thailand, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, has introduced a policy known as One Family, One Soft Power (OFOS). This policy aims to promote Thailand’s soft power, starting by improving the skills of Thai people with free training programmes and workshops.

 

The political campaigns of the Pheu Thai Party gained a lot of interest from the people. For example, the 20 baht train fare, 10,000 baht digital currency, constitution revision, and same-sex marriage all caught the electorate’s imagination.

 

Aside from those policies which gained huge attention from the people, the Culture Minister, Sermsak Phonpanich, highlighted the OFOS policy during an interview on September 5, aiming to draw attention to its significance.

According to a report on Sanook, the OFOS initiative is designed to elevate Thailand’s soft power on the global stage, with an initial focus on the Thai population itself. The Pheu Thai Party’s vision is to elevate 20 million Thai citizens into highly skilled workers, each earning an annual income of at least 200,000 baht.

 

by Petch Petpailin

Photo by Egor Myznik via Unsplash.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/one-family-one-soft-power-policy-introduced-to-promote-thailands-soft-power

 

-- The Thaiger 2023-09-07

 

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OPOR

 

One Piece Of Rubbish

Thai politicians don't seem to know what soft power means. 

 

It's the idea that a country's legal systems, democracy and social culture are so safe, fair, honest and transparent that they give them a kind of unwritten power and influence in international politics. 

 

In Thailand, the Prime Minister came to power through a sham election and dodgy back room deals. The country is notorious for its corruption. They should fix those things first. 

 

I must admit, it doesn't sound like a winner. They have a lot of these schemes. I remember 'Thainess' a few years back....it died a death too. Politicians like to put out all sorts of initiatives when they come to office then quietly forget about them? Personally I don't have much faith in them because I'm still waiting for the last PM's promise of Returning Happiness to the People (RHP). It was news for a few weeks and then faded away, only to be replaced by OFOS? Don't worry it will soon be forgotten.

Quote

The policy sparked controversy among Thai netizens saying the newly formed government do not understand the word, soft power. 

Thai people are smarter than their government.

I don't even know what I just read, and I have never understood the concept of Thailand 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0. Garbage in, garbage out. 

Srettha serves one family - the Shinawatras who put him in power. When he stops doing that, he's gone.

On the other hand ...

 

After a decade of the dinosaurs, this new mob - and particularly the PM - has a feeling of being open to new ideas, trying new things, looking for new ways forward for all Thais. Which I find refreshing.

 

Of course it may be just window-dressing and come to nothing. But I find the never-ending cynicism of the all-knowing ANals a bit tiresome. Let's try a little optimism for a change.

Someone just rebranded Thailand 4.0 

On 9/7/2023 at 9:01 PM, mfd101 said:

On the other hand ...

 

After a decade of the dinosaurs, this new mob - and particularly the PM - has a feeling of being open to new ideas, trying new things, looking for new ways forward for all Thais. Which I find refreshing.

 

Of course it may be just window-dressing and come to nothing. But I find the never-ending cynicism of the all-knowing ANals a bit tiresome. Let's try a little optimism for a change.

You’re right of course but I rather had more of that positive modern outlook vibe from the now sidelined Move Forward Party.

 

Having to read press this week about PT’s own dinosaurs in Plodprasop, and the particularly vile Chalerm, I could see why some might be having doubts that we are set-up for a repeat performance of the last PT administration. Whoever is fronting the current government, we all know the true power behind the scenes, who could not in any way be described as a spring-chicken. 
 

PS : my keyboard tried to autocorrect Chalerm to Charm. Never in the history of autocorrect has a more inappropriate suggestion been made !