King Prajadhipok’s Institute Journal

Perspectives of Politicians and Government Officials on the Peacebuilding Process in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces:

Kayanee Chor Boonpunth — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0700

The Peace Survey, conducted continually since 2016 and reaching its seventh round in 2023, has served as a crucial mechanism for reflecting public perspectives on the peace process in Thailand’s southern border provinces. This article examines the perspectives of politicians and government officials—critical actors in shaping the direction of peace—through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 12 key informants. These qualitative findings complement the quantitative data obtained from the Seventh Peace Survey.

The findings highlight five key themes: 1) perspectives on the peace dialogue process varied among informants, ranging from viewing it as a positive development and a necessary international mechanism to opposing it due to concerns about foreign intervention. Despite its limitations and the absence of clear effectiveness, most respondents believed that the process could help ease tensions to some extent. 2) regarding public participation, informants emphasized the need for broader inclusion across all sectors, highlighting the importance of transparency, safe spaces for expression, and political mechanisms linked to local leaders who possess a genuine understanding of local issues. 3) political solutions, regarded as the core of peacebuilding, range from support for maintaining existing structures to proposals for decentralization or self-governance, as well as the formulation of a long-term development roadmap. All informants agreed on the need for more continuous and transparent negotiations to foster trust.4) government stance and measures reflected expectations for closer engagement with the public, reduced centralization of power, and the elevation of the southern conflict to the national agenda. Suggestions were also made to restructure the peace dialogue framework by reducing the dominance of the military and allowing greater participation by peace experts. 5) key challenges to peace were identified, including mutual distrust between conflicting parties, the fragility and discontinuity of dialogue linked to national political dynamics, and state power structures that remain predominantly security-oriented.

The Role of Communication and the Creative Economy in Promoting Peace:

Walakkamol Changkamol — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This research article aims to study the roles of communication and the creative economy as mechanisms to support the peace process in Thailand’s southern border provinces. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study analyzed data from 20 in-depth interviews and 12 participants in focus group discussions. The findings reveal three key issues that highlight a significant gap between the state-led peace dialogue and the actual needs of the local population: 1) a lack of participation and communication gaps. These factors represent major obstacles to the peace process. Stakeholders perceive the peace process as distant, confined to a limited circle, and lacking genuine public engagement. Furthermore, ineffective state communication contributes to persistent mistrust. 2) the creative economy has the potential to function as a proactive mechanism for cultivating “positive peace.” 3) cultural capital and local identity can strengthen the local economy and contribute to conflict mitigation.

To achieve practical results, this research provides the following policy recommendations: 1) a paradigm shift in conflict resolution from a purely security-led approach to participatory social and economic development. 2) the establishment of concrete participation mechanisms to ensure all stakeholder groups can engage meaningfully. 3) reform of peace communication strategies among relevant state agencies, alongside the promotion of the principles of “peace journalism” among media professionals and communicators, including the cultivation of positive narratives highlighting the region’s cultural and economic potential to reduce prejudice and enhance external understanding; and 4) the systematic promotion of the creative economy and cultural capital.

The State under Grey Fog:

Apinya Tissamana, Sappamongkol Somwong — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0700

Amidst political, economic and social volatility, Thailand is facing an unavoidable crisis in the twenty-first century. This study conducts a spatial survey using conflict mapping tools to systematically survey data and design conflict maps based on international indicators such as the Global Peace Index, the Rule of law Index, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The data obtained from this study were used to develop a prototype for addressing social crises in Thailand. The spatial surveys in the pilot areas aim at conflict prevention and resolution. The selected pilot areas are Mae Sot District in Tak Province (northern region) and Ubon Ratchathani Province (northeastern region). These surveys aim to understand the causes of conflict, the dynamics of the conflicts, the problem-solving approaches adopted by local communities, and the state’s conflict management mechanisms in these areas.

Effective conflict management requires an understanding of key variables—most importantly, the local context. There is no fixed formula for preventing or managing social crises, however, crises can be anticipated and mitigated through informed and context-sensitive approaches. This study seeks to clarify the role of conflict resolution as a means of reducing social crises. In Ubon Ratchathani Province, conflicts are primarily related to natural resource and environmental issues (e.g., the Pak Mun Dam), whereas in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, conflicts mainly concern economic and social challenges. By revealing uncertainties in governance and conflict management, this study offers a clearer understanding of potential pathways for addressing Thailand’s social crises.

Building a Culture of Peace in Educational Institutions:

chalat pratheuangrattana, Surachai Vaivanjit — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This research aims (1) to apply a model for fostering a culture of peace in educational institutions, and (2) to develop policy recommendations based on the outcomes of peace culture implementation, for presentation to policymakers. The study employed documentary research to review theories and concepts related to a culture of peace, which were used to develop the TUNA ACT Model. This model was piloted in nine private secondary schools in Yala Province that voluntarily participated in the project. Training sessions were conducted alongside pre- and post-training tests and attitude surveys, involving 54 participants—six from each school—comprising one mentor teacher and five students. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten administrators and teachers from three schools: an Islamic private school integrating general education, a private school with both Buddhist and non-Buddhist students, and a private school offering Chinese language and culture programs. Additionally, focus group discussions were held with approximately 20 students from these schools.

The findings show that most participants gained increased knowledge of peace culture and developed more positive attitudes toward peaceful coexistence within the school setting. After the training, student representatives continued related activities such as producing short films, creating awareness media within their schools, and conducting peer training. Tangible indicators of peace culture implementation were observed through the establishment of internal mechanisms and ongoing activities. Interviews and discussions revealed that although the schools varied in identity and context, each was able to manage internal conflicts effectively. Common characteristics included a high level of diversity and an understanding of cultural dynamics extending beyond the school into the surrounding communities. The policy recommendations emphasize the importance of creating friendly, safe, and creative learning environments; developing curricula and training programs that promote a culture of peace; encouraging inclusive participation; and ensuring policy support, as well as systematic monitoring and evaluation, by relevant agencies.

Digital Citizenship Among Older Adults in Thailand:

Jaruwan Kaewmano — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This article forms part of the research project entitled ‘Digital Citizenship in Older Adults,’ which aims to examine the levels of knowledge and understanding, as well as the factors influencing the level of digital citizenship among older adults in Thailand to competently use digital technologies for various activities with awareness and responsibility. This research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining survey data from 845 older people, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. The findings indicate that aging itself is not the primary barrier to the development of digital skills. Rather, disparities in education and economic status are the key factors driving digital inequality and limiting older adults’ capacity to develop digital citizenship. The findings show that middle- and late-stage older adults remain capable of learning to use digital technologies even when learning begins only after entering old age; however, their digital citizenship scores are significantly lower than those of early-stage older adults with prior digital experience. This suggests that digital experience and usage patterns are more important than chronological age. These factors are closely linked to education and income, as evidenced by the finding that older adults with higher levels of education and income tend to exhibit higher levels of digital citizenship. Furthermore, respondents with higher digital citizenship scores typically spent at least three hours per day online, and those who allocated their online time to learning and news consumption demonstrated higher levels of digital citizenship than those who primarily used digital technologies for communication or entertainment. The findings, therefore, highlight that digital inequality is a critical factor shaping older adults’ digital citizenship. Accordingly, efforts to enhance digital competencies should not be postponed until later life but should begin well before individuals reach old age. Importantly, such efforts should extend beyond skill-based training and be accompanied by systematic reforms of economic and social infrastructure.

The Problem of The Interpretation of “Overthrow of The Democratic Regime” by The Constitutional Court of The Kingdom of Thailand

Chawakorn Lanchanasatianchai — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This article aims to examine the problem of the interpretation of “Overthrow of the Democratic Regime” by the Constitutional Court of the Kingdom of Thailand from 2006 to 2024. The research is conducted through an analysis of ten decisions of the Constitutional Court, which are classified into four types of cases: (1) cases related to corruption involving political parties and the electoral process; (2) cases related to social movements or assemblies; (3) cases related to amendments to laws or legislative acts; and (4) cases related to the monarchy. The findings indicate that, across these categories, the Constitutional Court interprets the term differently, and that no clear or definite interpretative standard exists. Moreover, these interpretations are inconsistent with the universally recognized definition of threats to democracy. This inconsistency creates loopholes that enable the Constitutional Court to be used as a political mechanism rather than as an institution that protects the fundamental values of the democratic regime with the King as Head of State.

Findings from the Seventh Peace Survey:

Fareeda Panjor — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This research article examines the perspectives of women in Thailand’s Deep South regarding their participation in the peace process. The study draws on data from the Seventh Peace Survey as well as the conceptual framework of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325), at a time when Thailand is in the process of developing its first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS National Action Plan). The analysis considers both the roles of women in the Deep South and the challenges they face in participating in decision-making processes, one of the four pillars of the WPS agenda: (1) prevention, (2) protection, (3) participation, and (4) relief and recovery.

Findings from the Seventh Peace Survey (1,312 respondents), together with qualitative data, reveal that women in the Deep South place the greatest importance on relief and recovery for affected individuals, the creation of safe spaces, and the protection of their rights and those of their communities. However, women’s participation in formal peace processes remains the least supported dimension. Despite this, women in the region overwhelmingly agree that women’s participation is essential for building justice and inclusive peace.

The findings further indicate that women in the Deep South possess strong ideas and perspectives regarding participation in peace processes at both formal and informal levels. When analyzed alongside the concepts and experiences of the WPS agenda or UNSCR 1325, the study suggests that promoting meaningful participation of women in the Deep South must begin with recognizing women as key stakeholders who hold important perspectives and capacities for contributing to peacebuilding at all levels, from community engagement to policy mechanisms.