STORY-DRIVEN POLITICS AND POST-TRUTH POLITICS: WHEN BELIEFS TRUMP FACTS

Abstract

This article analyzed the phenomena of story-based politics and post-truth politics in contemporary Thai society, examining how political narratives and emotional responses influenced public information perception, belief formation, and the evaluation of public policies. The analysis revealed that narrative-based political communication presented complex political issues in an accessible format that resonated with the audience's emotions and identities. Consequently, the assessment of information and policies may be driven more by pre-existing beliefs than by factual scrutiny. Furthermore, the presentation and reproduction of political narratives via digital media along with the importation of discourses from different contexts  created a disconnect between political imagery and policy implementation feasibility if these narratives are not adapted to Thailand’s specific social and institutional contexts. The article proposed a four-point framework to address these phenomena: 1. fostering critical thinking and political information literacy; 2. evaluating policies based on evidence, cost-effectiveness, and feasibility; 3. verifying the alignment between narratives and actual practice; and 4. promoting a culture of debate grounded in facts, transparency, and accountability. This framework aimed to encourage political decision-making processes that prioritized empirical data, reason, and public accountability, essential conditions for enhancing the quality of democracy and public policy.