DEMOCRACY AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN THAILAND

The course falls within the core training activities of the Master’s Degree programme in “Languages of Asia and the Mediterranean Africa for Business and International Cooperation” (Curriculum: Southeast Asia). Its learning objectives are included in the learning area of historical, cultural, and humanities-based competencies.

Knowledge and understanding:
- Identify and explain the key stages in the development of democracy in Thailand from the late twentieth century to the present
- Understand the roles of major political actors, including the monarchy, military, judiciary, and civil society
- Gain knowledge of the main social movements in Thailand and their historical and political significance
- Develop awareness of the relationship between constitutional change, political conflict, and grassroots mobilization

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- Critically analyse academic literature on Thai politics, democratization, and social movements
- Apply theoretical frameworks on social movements and political change to the Thai context
- Interpret and evaluate a range of sources, including media, protest materials, and policy documentsAssess the strategies, demands, and impacts of different social movements in Thailand
- Formulate well-structured arguments on the prospects and limitations of democratic development in Thailand

Historical interest in the societies, cultures, and peoples of contemporary South-East Asia

This course examines the evolution of democracy in Thailand through the dynamic interplay between state power and social movements. It situates Thailand’s political development within a broader context of contested democratization, highlighting how periods of liberalization have often been interrupted by military intervention, judicial influence, and enduring elite authority. Rather than viewing democracy as a linear progression, the course emphasizes its uneven and cyclical nature.

Central to the course is the role of social movements as key agents of political change. Students will explore how diverse groups—including rural farmers, environmental activists, urban middle classes, and LGBTQ+ communities—have mobilized to demand rights, representation, and accountability. Particular attention is given to the 1997 “People’s Constitution” as a landmark moment of participatory reform, as well as to subsequent setbacks following the military coups of 2006 and 2014.

The course also engages with contemporary developments, especially the youth-led protest movements that emerged in 2020. These mobilizations, notable for their innovative use of digital tools and their willingness to challenge previously untouchable institutions, mark a significant shift in Thailand’s political landscape. Students will analyze the movements’ core demands, strategies, and the state’s legal and coercive responses, including the use of lèse-majesté laws.

By combining historical analysis with contemporary case studies, the course encourages students to critically assess the prospects for democratic development in Thailand. It invites reflection on the relationship between formal political institutions and grassroots activism, and on the possibilities and limits of social movements in confronting entrenched power structures.

Required readings will be announced in class and provided through Moodle.

Written examination with multiple-choice and open-ended questions

The test will assess:
a) the student’s knowledge of the main phases in the development of democracy in Thailand, including key events, political actors, and turning points from the late twentieth century to the present;
b) the student’s ability to contextualize political developments, social movements, and institutional changes within Thailand’s broader historical and socio-political framework;
c) the student’s ability to identify and critically discuss the role of social movements in shaping political participation, rights claims, and democratic processes;
d) the student’s capacity to analyse and interpret different types of sources and to engage critically with the academic literature included in the course bibliography;
e) the student’s ability to construct clear, coherent, and well-supported arguments on issues related to democratization and political contestation in Thailand.

written

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

Grading Scale (Criteria for Awarding Marks)
With regard to the grading scale, regardless of whether the student is attending or non-attending:

A. Marks in the range 18–22 will be awarded in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge of the course content related to the history of democracy and social movements in Thailand;
- limited ability to critically interpret the content, with only initial forms of independent judgment;
- adequate communication skills, with only partially appropriate use of the specific terminology related to the analysis of political and social processes in Thailand.

B. Marks in the range 23–26 will be awarded in the presence of:
- fair knowledge of the course content;
- fair ability to critically interpret the content and formulate independent judgments;
- fair communication skills and a reasonably appropriate use of specialist terminology related to the analysis of political and social processes in Thailand.

C. Marks in the range 27–30 will be awarded in the presence of:
- good knowledge of the course content;
- good ability to critically analyse and independently interpret the content;
- fully appropriate communication skills and correct, informed use of specialist terminology related to the study of politics and social movements in Thailand.

D. Distinction (cum laude) will be awarded in the presence of:
- excellent knowledge of the course content;
- excellent ability to understand, critically analyse, and independently synthesise the content;
- excellent communication skills and full command of specialist terminology related to the analysis of political processes, democratization, and social movements in Thailand.

Lectures (interspersed with presentations of films and materials), group discussions, exercises in small groups.