The turmoil in Bangkok during March – May 2010 needs to be placed in some perspective. It was dramatic, but not so very different from events in many other cities. In the same months, there were riots in Greece, battles with the police in Turkey, an occupation of the capital by the dispossessed in Egypt, Maoist demonstrations in Nepal, and a riot in the capital of Kyrgyzstan that physically drove the president out of his house and job. Many of these outbreaks, like those in Thailand, were revolts of the dispossessed against an old political establishment.
The widening of the political nation and challenge to old oligarchy are processes that most countries experience, especially as they become more prosperous. Thailand’s transition is especially turbulent because, for certain historical reasons, it has come rather late and faces fierce opposition, strengthened by old institutions.
Over the past several years, a handful of reliable surveys have asked a representative sample of the Thai population about political matters. The overwhelming majority state that they have faith in electoral democracy, are happy with constitutional monarchy, have no problem with peaceful demonstrations, and would like the army and members of the privy council to keep out of politics.
At the same time, the most recent of these surveys shows that both Red shirts and yellow shirts have significant base of support. The challenge for Thailand lies in getting these movements off the street and into representative institutions so that their clashing views on reform can be debated with words and ideas, not crude weaponry.
The turmoil in Bangkok during March – May 2010 needs to be placed in some perspective. It was dramatic, but not so very different from events in many other cities. In the same months, there were riots in Greece, battles with the police in Turkey, an occupation of the capital by the dispossessed in Egypt, Maoist demonstrations in Nepal, and a riot in the capital of Kyrgyzstan that physically drove the president out of his house and job. Many of these outbreaks, like those in Thailand, were revolts of the dispossessed against an old political establishment.The widening of the political nation and challenge to old oligarchy are processes that most countries experience, especially as they become more prosperous. Thailand’s transition is especially turbulent because, for certain historical reasons, it has come rather late and faces fierce opposition, strengthened by old institutions.Over the past several years, a handful of reliable surveys have asked a representative sample of the Thai population about political matters. The overwhelming majority state that they have faith in electoral democracy, are happy with constitutional monarchy, have no problem with peaceful demonstrations, and would like the army and members of the privy council to keep out of politics.At the same time, the most recent of these surveys shows that both Red shirts and yellow shirts have significant base of support. The challenge for Thailand lies in getting these movements off the street and into representative institutions so that their clashing views on reform can be debated with words and ideas, not crude weaponry.
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