Fiscal Rebalancing and Peacebuilding: Budget Allocation Strategies in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces
Keywords:
Conflict, Peace Budgeting, Southern Border Provinces, Sustainable, ViolenceAbstract
This study examines government budget allocation strategies for sustainable peacebuilding in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces. Employing a qualitative policy analysis based on secondary data—including government budget reports and conflict incident data from Deep South Watch (2004-2022)— the study integrates the analytical frameworks of Fiscal Policy for Development, Fiscal Federalism, and Positive Peace to assess the effectiveness of fiscal interventions in conflict-affected areas.
The findings indicate that, despite cumulative public expenditure exceeding 400 billion baht, budget allocation has remained predominantly concentrated on security operations, limiting its effectiveness in addressing the structural drivers of conflict. However, a significant shift since 2017 toward integrated and area-based budgeting—emphasizing cross-sectoral coordination and local participation—has been associated with a marked decline in violent incidents. This suggests that development-oriented and context-sensitive fiscal strategies are more effective in reducing conflict intensity.
The study further demonstrates that sustainable peacebuilding requires a rebalancing of fiscal priorities from security-centered expenditure toward investments in economic opportunities, social services, and inclusive development. In this regard, the concept of “Peace Budgeting” is proposed as a strategic framework for transforming public finance into a mechanism for reducing structural inequalities, strengthening state–society trust, and promoting long-term stability.
Comparative insights from the Mindanao case in the Philippines reinforce the importance of aligning fiscal decentralization, participatory governance, and structured peace processes. The study concludes that effective peacebuilding depends not on the scale of public spending, but on its structure, allocation logic, and inclusiveness. Accordingly, the transition toward Peace Budgeting represents a critical paradigm shift for achieving sustainable and inclusive peace in multicultural and conflict-affected societies, positioning fiscal policy as a central mechanism linking development and peacebuilding in such contexts.
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