Student activism in Thailand from 1973 to 2006

Abstract

This thesis examines the student activists of the October Generation who led the Thai democracy movement in the early 1970s, a time when Thailand was undergoing rapid social change. There was a clear contradiction between the students' pro-democracy and leftist ideology and the weak political legitimacy of the Thanom-Praphat dictatorship. The military regime allowed limited political space for these students to articulate their concerns. These factors created the conditions that led to a mass social movement responsible for ousting the regime. Over the next three years these student activists were in the vanguard of progressive political changes. Those Khon Tula remained at the forefront of political reform, Thailand's civil society and the pro-democracy movement throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and remained politically active in the twenty-first century. In contrast, the Millennial Generation of Thai students were generally characterized as apathetic about politics and "jaded" by democracy while regarding corrupt politicians as the norm. they grew up in a nation whose ideology was capitalism and consumerism, epitomized by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Few students voiced objections to his authoritarian rule and widespread allegations of corruption since Thaksin was able to establish his political legitimacy with huge electoral victories, impressive achievements, and strong leadership. However, student activism did reemerge in Thailand during the Thaksin era during the political crisis in 2005-2006. They followed several paths to express their opposition to the prevailing political and social culture. Some added their voices to Thailand's civil society, joining with the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in its anti-Thaksin movement. Others adopted a leftist ideology and more confrontational approach in opposition to Thaksin's privatization plans and free-trade agreements, and against the coup d'etat. Some chose 'guerilla' activism to stage photo ops and harass the prime minister and his supporters. Many of their actions were seemingly spontaneous, quickly threatening to boycott GMM Grammy of march in support of Chulalongkorn University's political science dean. And, in a style they could call their own, many students chose to eschew the mass movement in favor of a legal approach, trying to work within the existing institutions of democracy. Although the student activists did not create a mass movement nor successfully negotiate democratic and progressive changes in Thai politics, they showed their democratic spirit, independence and willingness to engage in public and political issues in a democratic political system.