Defiance and Democracy: Understanding the Thai Protest Movement
Channel: United States Institute of Peace
Date: 2021-01-19

In 2020, a youth-based protest movement swept Thailand, with protestors calling for fundamental reforms to the Kingdom’s politics. While their key demands—a new election, a new constitution, and reforms to the monarchy—have not been met, the protestors have already succeeded in changing the terms of the national political debate that had persisted over the last two decades. With pledges to return to the streets in the new year with more force, the protests show no signs of stopping, and the endgame remains more uncertain than ever.

Join USIP for a discussion on the underlying political dynamics that are driving this current movement—as well as a look at the tactics the protestors have deployed to mobilize in Thailand’s restrictive environment, where the protest movement may go from here, and how the U.S. government might constructively respond.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #ThailandUSIP. 

Speakers
Rattaphol “Ahn” Onsanit
Thai Service Chief, Voice of America

Penchan Phoborisut
Assistant Professor, California State University, Fullerton

Jonathan Pinckney
Senior Researcher, Nonviolent Action, U.S. Institute of Peace

Desmond Walton
Senior Director, BowerGroupAsia; U.S. Army Colonel (ret.) and Former U.S. Defense Attaché to Thailand 

Brian Harding, moderator
Senior Expert, Southeast Asia, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/defiance-and-democracy-understanding-thai-protest-movement

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The United States Institute of Peace is a national, nonpartisan, independent institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical, and essential for U.S. and global security. In conflict zones abroad, the Institute works with local partners to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict. To reduce future crises and the need for costly interventions, USIP works with governments and civil societies to help their countries solve their own problems peacefully. The Institute provides expertise, training, analysis, and support to those who are working to build a more peaceful, inclusive world.