In 2019, Thailand held its first election in eight years, crowned a new king for the first time in nearly 70 years, and hosted the ASEAN summits for the first time in a decade. It was an eventful year for Thailand, filled with controversy and attempts to restore stability and the democratic legitimacy lost after the coup of 2014. Progress was marred by missteps and irregularities, leaving both stability and legitimacy in doubt.

The Thai government in 2013 faced numerous challenges: a gradual decline in popularity, continuing insurgency in the South, problems with the economy and economic strategy, and difficult relations with the military. These challenging issues on the agenda led to widespread demonstrations and intractable conflict by the end of the year.

In 2012, Thailand continued to take steps toward the creation of a new normal. That new normal encompassed, not always successfully, reconciliations between Red and Yellow adherents, the government and the military, the government and the courts, factions in the Pheu Thai Party, and between the government and Southern insurgents. By year’s end, some normalcy had been achieved, although the future of Thaksin, reconciliation between the colors, and the violence in the South remained unresolved.

The year 2007 marked a return to parliamentary rule in Thailand, with a new Constitution approved in August and elections in December. With democracy, some fear the return of popular former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, overthrown in the coup of 2006. Attempts by the coup group to contain Thaksin's influence continued throughout the year.

The year began with a prime minister elected with the largest margin of victory in Thai history. The year ended with the prime minister in exile, the military in power, and, according to polls, most people satisfied with the coup. The coup marked a setback for democracy and for all major political institutions.

In 2001, elections for the Thai parliament were held under a new constitution. Scholarly attention has focused on changes to the political system. This article argues that it is also important to examine continuities. Focusing on the relationship between parties and their factions, we find that change has come in policy platforms, coalition-building, and patronage; important continuities exist in electoral networks and vote-buying.