Southern Thailand: The Dynamics of Conflict

John Funston

Published by ISEAS Publishing 2008

Southern Thailand

The Dynamics of Conflict

John Funston

https://doi.org/10.1355/9789812308887

Overview
Contents

About this book

This monograph examines the tragic conflict in Thailand's southern Muslim-majority provinces near the border with Malaysia. Although the conflict has attracted wide national and international interest, no agreement exists on the cause of the resumption of violence in an area that had remained free of major conflict for two decades. This monograph critically examines explanations for the conflict and traces its evolution from the early 1990s to the beginning of the Samak government in 2008. The study points to a wide variety of factors that were important in the resumption of the conflict, with policies of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra being critical in determining the timing and intensity of the violence. These conditions include: (1) the resumption of an age-old conflict between Malay Muslims from Pattani, Yala, and Narithiwat Provinces against a discriminatory central government; (2) entrenched problems of criminality in an area far from the capital and with a porous border with Malaysia; (3) the disbanding of important conflict resolution institutions by former Prime Minister Thaksin, who then gave priority to hard line (sometimes extrajudicial) security policies; (4) growing Islamic religiosity, influenced by regional reform movements and international developments, including the example of extremist movements such as Jemaah Islamiyah; and (5) the growth of southern insurgent movements - which have never issued public demands and whose real leaders remain unknown. In this complex setting, no resolution to the violence appears likely in the near future, as Thaksin's main policies have been retained since the September 2006 coup that ousted his government.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
List of Acronyms Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	ix
Executive Summary Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	xi
Southern Thailand The Dynamics of Conflict Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Muslims in Southern Thailand Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	6
Peaceful Decades Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	15
Return of Violence Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	18
Religion and the Insurgency Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	30
Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	44
Endnotes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	47
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	55
Appendix Major Incidents in Southern Thailand since December 24, 2001 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	59
Internal Conflicts and State-Building Challenges in Asia. Project Information Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	65

Language: English
Publisher: ISEAS Publishing
Pages
- Main content: 81

eBook

Published: November 12, 2008
ISBN: 9789812308887