Divided Over Thaksin: Thailand’s Coup and Problematic Transition

Thailand’s political problems attracted international attention when yellow shirted anti-Thaksin protestors closed down Bangkok’s international airports in November 2008; the following April pro-Thaksin red shirts prevented an ASEAN–East Asia Summit, and clashed violently with the army in the streets of Bangkok. Conflict between groups for and against former Prime Minister Thaksin has polarized Thai society. Under his watch, violence also returned to the Malay Muslim south, with the loss of over three thousand lives. The military coup that ousted Thaksin was supposed to end all this, but instead polarization increased and southern violence continued. This book is about how Thaksin divided Thailand, the nature of the southern conflict, and problematic attempts to establish a consensus around a post-Thaksin political order.

About the Editor

John Funston is a Visiting Fellow at the Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University.

Highlights

• Insightful analysis of the polarization in Thai society prior to and following the military coup that ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra
• Includes thirteen chapters written by prominent Thai and Western scholars
• Discusses why the September 2006 coup and new constitution failed to heal social divisions
• Describes how the armed conflict in the Muslim south contributed to undermining Thaksin’s authority and continues to pose problems for the current government
• Examines the causes of Thailand’s stalled economic recovery and the impact of political uncertainty on business

Keywords

Thailand | Thaksin Shinawatra | patronage | politics | political turbulence | Malay Muslims | constitutional reform | Thai economy

In the Press

• What will become of Thailand's future?: Accounts of various viewpoints on the most recent putsch, social divide and instability of the nation's institution (Bangkok Post, 18 January 2010)