Thailand : The Defence Media Matrix
• A Quick Snapshot of why the Media plays a key role in:
– Influencing Government decisions (Aircraft technology transfer program, Ground Combat systems, Fighter EW Radar systems,)
– Bridging communication between Ministries
– Playing the traditional watchdog role
Providing endorsement that enables Government decisions Retards or reverses decision making (e.g. Artillery acquisitions
The Military Context
• Thai military planning, procurement & national security concerns are largely political in nature.
• Strategic decisions on defence undergo political scrutiny before being implemented on paper.
• Thai military has always played a dominating role in key government decisions regarding defence and security.
• Individual defence agencies work on separate plans for force modernisation, which are discussed in parliament
• Muslim inspired Insurgency and counter insurgency operations necessitated force modernisation.
• Confrontation and continued conflict delayed defence acquisition plans as well.
• Thailand has been procuring defence systems largely to thwart attacks , homeland protection and guarding its maritime and air spaces-i.e conventional warfare
• In the recent years budget cut backs have affected defence spending in Thailand.
• Financial crisis of the 1990’s in the region led to low spending on defence & security
• Increasing economic relationship with the US and the increasing American perception of India as a stable partner has made the relationship both more open and, at the same time, leveraged in favour of the US.
• In a sense, India may well be nudged over a period of time to balance out its IT revenues and migration of jobs to India with arms purchases from the US that would keep conservative Senators off the administration’s back. There would also be a fair amount of pay-offs expected for US steering India’s re-admission to the Nuclear Club as a NWS. As of now, India’s reluctance to do so has dampened relationships.
• An underlying theme across Indian purchases has been the emphasis on self-reliance, best exemplified in its missile program and worst executed in the MBT project as also the LCA Program.
• The current focus on partnership between Indian firms and defence manufacturers is a continuation of the need to address the basic sense of inadequacy arising from a poor defence industry.
• Partnerships, therefore, will be well received and regarded as national achievements.
• That said, the IAF and the defence analysts have a fairly poor opinion of indigenous efforts, including the LCA.
The Role of Media In Impacting Decision Making
The Government
• The Indian Government System is based on a combination of the US and UK: A Federal System combined with a Parliamentary System.
• One consequence of the British Parliamentary system is that different arms of the government tend to operate in silos.
• When the Government is weak at the top or allows each arm to function as per its best judgment – as it does now – there is little communication between the different arms of the government.
The Civil Services
· Constitutional protection.
· Political neutrality.
· Permanency.
· Anonymity
· Recruitment based on merit
The administrative structure of the Government of India
(The roles of the various Ministries are defined as per the Rules of Business)
(The roles of the various Ministries are defined as per the Rules of Business)
• The “exclusive” character of the Civil Services also implies a sense of “right to rule” that invariably clashes with its dominance over the Military.
• Consequently, the armed forces take recourse to media – specially digital media --- to create space for itself in the civil-military “relationship”.
• Access to armed forces range from formal to nominal. The only Military-Industrial complex is Government/Public Sector led.
• The Armed Forces are subservient to the Political system: Not allowed to speak; no opportunity to be heard except in extremely limited fashion. Even the Army Chief cant get his age corrected.
• The Media is the only format of both formal and non-formal communication between the armed forces and the government: LCA, MBT, Missile Programmes et al.
• As a result of Bofors, the political class shies away from debating defence or getting too involved in scrutinizing programs for fear of being charged with being hand maidens of one or the other Global Defence supplier.
• Defence continues to be core sector which draws high media attention for a variety of reasons.
• The frequency and intensity of reporting across multiple dimensions is fairly high in Defence media.
• General news dailies and television devote moderate space and footage but interest tends to peak around scandals
• A large share of Indian Defence communication from the government and the armed forces – to the public and to each other -- are carried forth through the print media.
• The press plays an important role in the communication with the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces.
• The military requirements of the nation are expressed through the media.
• News of selection and rejection is carried first by the press, before it even reaches the knowledge of those involved. (Sometimes, within the Government! The External Affairs was most miffed that it never got to know of the MMRCA short list!)
• The Story is India first, India next and India last.
• Even global data of relevance must be interpreted in the Indian context
The stories that work in India:
• Large acquisitions
• Key Defence Projects
• Large scale Investment
• Mergers & Acquisition
• National security impact
• Defence and Foreign Strategy
• Technology: Specially foreign sourced
• New paradigms with Indian security relevance
• Large brands, Global CEOs, celebrities
• Large India presence
• Indian policy
• Impact on macro economy
The stories that don’t:
– Global stories with no particular India anchor
– Achievements in other countries
– Global technologies with no particular Indian context
– Lack of a clearly articulated India gameplan
– Small news brands, small profiles
– Being a global brand is not enough
– Small business deals, MoUs
• Therefore, two simple conclusions:
– Indian Media is not simply a news distributor. It is a part of the decision making process.
– Global news, views, websites, activities are irrelevant. Become a participant in the decision making process by creating opportunities through the media.
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