Civil movements and human insecurity: A case from thailand

Abstract

Thailand has recently faced significant civil and political unrest. The election of Thaksin Shinawatra as Prime Minister in 2001 and his subsequent overthrow by a military coup in 2006 has negatively affected the country’s nascent democratization. Furthermore, it has brought about a significant polarization of Thai society. Two mutually opposing camps have emerged with distinct political ideologies and different visions of democracy, namely the anti-Thaksin camp and the Thaksin support camp. The unprecedented rivalry between these two opposing camps has caused ‘‘personal insecurity’’ as well as ‘‘political insecurity’’ for many in Thai society. This has led to the destruction of private and public property and violence toward government officials, police, military personnel, and citizens alike. These insecurities have dented Thailand’s international reputation; damaging tourism and foreign investment. The following chapter examines the complex character of this period. It unpacks the factors and consequences of this civil turmoil in Thai society in terms of human security and evaluates the efforts to cope with such problems.