Showing 1 - 10 of 171
Signs and symptoms of Thai stagnation
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 18/07/2025
» That Thailand is faring poorly in the world is no longer in dispute. Not so long ago, many were in denial and adamant that Thailand could still bring a good game to engage abroad, that "Teflon" Thailand could bounce back. Now, just about all indicators are pointing south. The causes of this country's decline and stagnation are not singular but multifaceted over a two-decade period. As Thailand's situation is likely to worsen before hopes for a better future can arise, it is instructive to start counting the costs.
New anti-Paetongtarn group draws scrutiny
News, Published on 01/07/2025
» Political observers are closely watching the trajectory of the "United Front to Defend Thai Sovereignty", a new group that has emerged as a vocal critic of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Jets can't fix trade
Oped, Postbag, Published on 03/05/2025
» Re: "Arms deals tied to US tariff talks", (BP, April 22).
Breaking cycle of forest land grabs
News, Apinya Wipatayotin, Published on 24/03/2025
» Thailand's efforts to address landlessness among its population has been a priority for multiple administrations. One key strategy has been allocating forest land to those in need. However, a significant portion of beneficiaries reside in forest zones classified as state-owned property, creating challenges in balancing land distribution with environmental conservation.
Breaking cycle of forest land grabs
Apinya Wipatayotin, Published on 24/03/2025
» Thailand’s efforts to address landlessness among its population has been a priority for multiple administrations. One key strategy has been allocating forest land to those in need. However, a significant portion of beneficiaries reside in forest zones classified as state-owned property, creating challenges in balancing land distribution with environmental conservation.
Why racial labels?
Oped, Postbag, Published on 25/01/2025
» Re: "Indian man 'kills delivery man'", (BP, Jan 23).
Beyond the world's favourite hippo
Oped, Published on 02/01/2025
» The news from Asia at year-end 2024 that dominated headlines here in the United States included the tragic crash landing of Jeju Air flight 2216 flying from Thailand. As hundreds of millions took to roads and to the air for the holidays, the news seemed especially close to home, even thousands of miles away.
Two wasted decades in Thai politics
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 20/12/2024
» Now that Thaksin Shinawatra appears actively back in Thai politics, it is demoralising to look back at Thailand's wasted time and opportunities. Once a promising country on the way from democratic transition to consolidation in the late 1990s, Thailand has become semi-autocratic, and its rocky political trajectory over the past two decades is now structural. The traditional institutions of power that grew out of the Cold War have been calling the shots in earlier decades and are just unwilling to let the country move forward in the immediate years ahead.
Middle path sought in referendum majority row
Published on 20/11/2024
» A United Thai Nation list-MP has expressed support for a middle path as MPs and Senators continue to thrash out their differences over the size of the majority required to pass a referendum on amending the constitution.
Trump tariffs spell trouble for Thailand
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 14/11/2024
» Readers must have read a few articles or listened to numerous analyses of US President-elect Donald Trump's trade protectionism policy and its impact on the world economy, particularly China. But this could be the first genuinely economic-oriented analysis of Mr Trump's policy, emphasising issues relevant to Thailand. Readers could find that an economic approach would give new insights into this much talked about topic.