Identity Politics and Social Conflict in Contemporary Thai Society
Keywords:
Identity politics, ethnicity, nationalism, conflict, ThailandAbstract
This article examines the dynamics of identity politics in contemporary Thai society by analyzing how historical narratives, structural inequalities, and legal frameworks shape ethnic, regional, religious, and gender-based conflicts. Drawing on case studies from Isaan, the Deep South, LGBTQ+ communities, and Cold War-era discourses, the article highlights how state-driven nationalism has marginalized diverse identities through cultural assimilation and centralized governance. It argues that effective conflict resolution requires structural reforms, inclusive representation, and a shift toward pluralistic democratic practices. The discussion further situates Thailand within broader global debates on identity and nationalism, emphasizing the growing impact of digital media and generational change on political mobilization.
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This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which allows others to share the article with proper attribution to the authors and prohibits commercial use or modification. For any other reuse or republication, permission from the journal and the authors is required.
