Research Catalog

Title

Southern Thailand : the dynamics of conflict / John Funston.

Author

Funston, N. J. (N. John)

Publication

Washington, DC : East-West Center Washington, 2008.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

East-West Center Washington

Description

xiv, 81 p. : map; 24 cm.

Summary

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.

Series Statement

Policy studies, 1547-1349 ; 50 (Southeast Asia).

Uniform Title

Policy studies (East-West Center Washington) ; 50.

Subject

• Insurgency > Thailand, Southern
• Islam and politics > Thailand
• Conflict management > Thailand
• Thailand, Southern > History > Autonomy and independence movements

Note

• This publication is a product of the project on 'Internal Conflicts and State-Building Challenges in Asia'.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. [55]-57).

ISBN

• 9789812308870
• 9812308873

OCLC

• ocn277240001
• 277240001
• SCSB-5538902

Owning Institutions

Columbia University Libraries