Understanding Thailand’s Coup

Source: Diplomat

Carnegie’s Vikram Nehru sat down with Shannon Tiezzi of the Diplomat to discuss the recent ouster of Thailand’s democratically elected government by the Thai military and constitutional court. In the interview, he explained why this coup is unique in Thailand’s long history of over a dozen coups, and examined the rising political power of the rural poor in the north and northeast of the country, the role of the monarchy in Thai politics and the coup, the implications of the coup for the region, and the steps that will be necessary to reach a democratic resolution. In particular, he emphasized the importance of ensuring political voice for both the increasingly influential rural poor and for the established Bangkok elite. How any proposed resolution handles the issue of federalism, the entrenched role of the Bangkok elite, and the establishment and entrenchment of non-partisan political institutions that stand above the fray will be the key issues to watch and will determine the nature and trajectory of Thailand’s democracy going forward, he concluded.

This interview originally appeared at the Diplomat.