Thursday, 27 June 2024 – In this hybrid seminar, Dr Paul Chambers, a Visiting Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, shared his insights concerning the Thai military’s role in national politics.
THAILAND STUDIES PROGRAMME WEBINAR
About the Webinar
In 2024, the relationship between Thailand and the United States can be described as edgy amity. Economically, they enjoy close trade and investment relations, with the US being Thailand’s primary export destination. Their defense diplomacy remains strong, involving US military aid, education, and joint exercises. Historically, during the Cold War, Thailand and the US were staunch allies, with Thailand aligning with any prevailing foreign powers in Southeast Asia reflecting its “Bend with Wind” policy. Post-2001, Thailand adopted a hedging policy, balancing its relations between the US and China to support royalist-nationalism. The coups of 2006 and 2014 further solidified this hedging approach. From 2019-2023, General Prayuth Chanocha government was more pro-US compared to the current Srettha Thavisin administration. Thailand and the US have differing views on Myanmar, and various Thai bureaucracies maintain different stances towards the US. In 2024, the US is no longer Thailand’s top economic partner but remains its leading security partner, with China emerging as a significant contender.
In this webinar, Dr Chambers argues that Thai-US relations will continue to be a function of hedging if only because China has become a major partner for Thailand, but Thailand values a US partnership because of the US market and because Thailand needs the United States to ensure that China does not dominate Thailand altogether.
About the Speaker
Dr. Paul Chambers is a lecturer and advisor for International Affairs at the Center of ASEAN Community Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand. He is also a part-time visiting fellow at the Thailand Studies Programme of the ISEAS—Yusof Ishak Institute. He has a PhD in political science from Northern Illinois University. His articles have appeared in Asian Survey, Contemporary Southeast Asia, and The Journal of Contemporary Asia, among others. He speaks Thai, Lao, Burmese, and Spanish, in addition to English.
Registration
This webinar will be delivered online entirely. To join us, please register here to receive your unique link.
Please note that each registration is good for only one login at any one time during the event.
Webinar on “Thailand’s Most Influential Mastermind, or Troubled Captive of His Own Complicated Fate”
Prof Ukrist Pathamanand (Institute of Asia Studies, Chulalongkorn University) and Dr Weera Wongsatjachok (Lecturer in Political Science and Public Administration, Naresuan University) discussed the phenomenon of influential former 2-time Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra following his return to Thailand after 17 years of self-exile.
THAILAND STUDIES PROGRAMME
About the Hybrid Seminar
In Thailand’s constitutional monarchy, the military has been, and continues to be, a leading political institution. Multiple coups have demonstrated such prowess, most recently in 2006 and 2014. During Thailand’s 2019-2023 “charade” democracy, military influence persisted indirectly. Since the 2023 general election, military clout has been in the shadows. The military faces two major obstacles: military factionalism and civilian demands for getting the military out of politics and vigorous military reform. What is the Srettha Administration trying to do to deter new coup attempts?
In this seminar, Dr Chambers will argue that the Thai military has become more factionalised, and it will continue to intervene in Thai politics. This means another coup in Thailand cannot be completely ruled out.
About the Speaker
Dr Paul Chambers is a lecturer and advisor for International Affairs at the Center of ASEAN Community Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand. Dr Chambers is a part-time Visiting Fellow at the Thailand Studies Programme of the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. He has a PhD in political science from Northern Illinois University. His articles have appeared in Asian Survey, Contemporary Southeast Asia and The Journal of Contemporary Asia, among others. He speaks Thai, Lao, Burmese, Spanish, in addition to English.
Registration
This is a hybrid event which will be held at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS).
Attending the Event In-person at ISEAS
To join the event in-person at ISEAS, please register via the ISEAS mobile app, available on iOS and Android via the Apple or Play store. Search “ISEAS” to find or scan this QR code.
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Seating capacity is limited. Do register early to avoid disappointment.
Attending the Event Virtually via Webinar
To join the event virtually at the specified date and time using your internet devices, please register here to receive your unique login link for the webinar via the zoom platform.
If you have questions for the speaker, please key in your questions via the Q&A, stating your name and affiliation. The moderator will field them to the speakers during the Q&A session.
In this webinar, Dr Pinitbhand Paribatra (Associate Professor and the head of the International Affairs Department at the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University) and Dr Chanintira na Thalang (Associate Professor at the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University) examine the evolving dynamics of Thailand’s foreign policy under the leadership of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
THAILAND STUDIES PROGRAMME
About the Webinar
A recent survey has identified former 2-time Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has returned to Thailand after 17 years of overseas exile, as the most influential person in Thai politics.
The Thai King has commuted to only one year Thaksin’s eight years of jail term from three corruption convictions. Thaksin spent the first 180 days of his one-year jail term in the Police Hospital, undergoing some treatments and surgeries under mysterious circumstances. Upon completing this period, he was released into home detention on parole on February 18.
Merely three days after his release under parole, Thaksin welcomed former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen for a private lunch. Two weeks later, he got permission to visit his hometown in Chiang Mai. On 26 March, he visited the H.Q. of Pheu Thai Party, where his youngest daughter Paetongtarn is the party leader. At the Pheu Thai party congress on 6 April, Thaksin reassured Pheu Thai members, via a video message, that Paetongtarn has his political DNA as well as the DNA of toughness and decisiveness of her mother to succeed and to lead Pheu Thai to greater glory.
In this webinar, two speakers will delve into the mysteries and implications of Thaksin’s recent activities.
About the Speakers
Professor Ukrist Pathmanand has been teaching political science at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. He is director of the Mekong Studies Center of Excellence, Institute of Asian Studies of Chulalongkorn University. He has done research on Thaksin’s power network. He received a B.A. degree in international relations from Ramkhamhaeng University in 1978, and a M.A. degree in international relations from Chulalongkorn University in 1983.
Assistant Professor Dr Weera Wongsatjachok is a lecturer in political science and public administration at Naresuan University, Phitsanulok. He is a former editor-in-chief of the Journal of Naresuan Social Science. He received a B.A. degree in political science (first class honours) in 2010 from Chulalongkorn University; a M.A. degree in politics from University of Sheffield, the UK; and a Ph.D. degree in comparative politics from Chulalongkorn University in 2015.
Registration
This webinar will be delivered online entirely. You can join the webinar at the specified date and time using devices (computer, phone, or tablet) with internet connection.
Please register here to receive your unique link for joining the webinar.
If you have questions for the speaker, please key in your questions via the Q&A, stating your name and affiliation. The moderator will field them to the speakers during the Q&A session.
In this webinar, Dr Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee (Professor in the Department of Government at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University) and Mr Parit Itim Wacharasindhu (Member of Parliament and Spokesperson of the Move Forward Party) discussed Thailand’s constitutional reform efforts.
The webinar discussed the political dynamics of Thailand’s new government, which had assumed office in early September 2023, with a view to analyze Thailand’s future policy and approach to the ongoing Myanmar crisis. The Myanmar issue affects Thailand’s foreign policy including its role and position in ASEAN.
In this webinar, Ms Alexandra Colombier examined the transcendence of politics into pop culture after GE2023 in Thailand.
Dr Napon Jatusripitak, Visiting Fellow, ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, and Dr Punchada Sirivunnabood, Associate Professor, Mahidol University, examined the nature and scope of the shifts in Thai politics that led to the stunning victory of the Move Forward Party in the 2023 general elections.