Examining the Impact of SLAPPs on Income Inequality: An In-depth Case Study from Thailand
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
In recent decades, Thailand’s impressive economic growth and substantial poverty reduction have been overshadowed by the persistent challenge of income inequality, hindering the nation’s progress. This paper explores the correlation between income inequality and a surge in strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) in Thailand. Drawing on diverse data sources, this study identifies sustained income inequality as a driving force behind the rise in SLAPPs, and vice versa, thus disproportionately affecting economically disadvantaged groups and exacerbating socio-economic disparities. To counteract these trends, the paper advocates reinforcing Thailand’s anti-SLAPP legislation, adopting relevant business initiatives, and fostering active stakeholder engagement to promote a supportive ecosystem for activists and poor, low-income SLAPP victims. These measures are crucial for preserving democratic values, addressing the multifaceted challenges of SLAPPs, and creating a more equitable and participatory societal landscape.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The views, opinions, and pictures expressed in this journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and viewpoints of the editor and the editorial board. All rights are reserved by the authors and the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies of Mahidol University. No part of this journal may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission in writing from the journal’s editor, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Non-commercial use of information in this journal must be properly referenced.
References
Alesina, A., & Rodrik, D. (1994). Distributive politics and economic growth. The quarterly journal of economics, 109(2), 465-490. https://doi.org/10.2307/2118470
Alvaredo, F., Chancel, L., Piketty, T., Saez, E., & Zucman, G. (2017). Global inequality dynamics: New findings from WID. world. American Economic Review, 107(5), 404-409. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.p20171095
ARTICLE 19. (2021). Truth be Told: Criminal defamation in Thai law and the case for reform. https://www.article19.org/wp- content/uploads/2021/03/Thailand_Truth_be_told_decriminalise_defamation-1.pdf
Athukorala, P. C. (2014). Global production sharing and trade patterns in East Asia. In I. N. Kaur, & N. Singh (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of the economics of the Pacific Rim (pp. 333-361). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199751990.013.014
Baldwin, R. (2019). The Globotics upheaval: Globalization, robotics, and the future of work. Oxford University Press.
Bangkok Post (2022, January 27). Give graft a SLAPP. https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2254271/give-graft-a-slapp
Borg-Barthet, J., Lobina, E., & Zabrocka, A. (2021). The use of SLAPPs to silence journalists, NGOs and civil society. European Parliament. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2021/694782/IPOL_STU(2021)694782_EN.pdf
De Juan, A., & Wegner, E. (2017). Social inequality, state-centered grievances, and protest: Evidence from South Africa. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 63(1), 31-58.
Dutta, A. (2020). Judicial harassment against labor rights activists: An analysis. Human Rights and Development Foundation. http://hrdfoundation.org/?p=2397&lang=en
Durongkaveroj, W. (2018). Tolerance for inequality: Hirschman’s tunnel effect revisited. Journal of International Development, 30(7), 1240-1247. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3389
Durongkaveroj, W. (2020). Trade, growth, and equity: Four essays [Doctoral Dissertation, Australian National University]. https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/216713
Durongkaveroj, W. (2023). Emphasis on domestic value added in export in the era of global value chain: Evidence from Thailand. Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, 50, 703-729. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40812-022-00239-9
Environmental Law Institute & the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice. (1997). A guide for community residents and environmental justice activists. https://www.eli.org/sites/default/files/eli-pubs/d15_03.pdf
Forbes, K. J. (2000). A reassessment of the relationship between inequality and growth. American Economic Review, 90(4), 869-887. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.90.4.869
Fortify Rights. (2018). Thailand: Uphold decision to dismiss criminal-defamation complaint against Thai PBS and journalists. https://www.fortifyrights.org/tha-inv-2018-03-19/
Freedom House. (2023). Freedom in the world 2023: Thailand. https://freedomhouse.org/country/thailand/freedom-world/2023
Global Labor Justice-International Labor Rights Forum (GLJ-ILRF) & International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR). (2023). Supplying SLAPPs: Corporate accountability for retaliatory lawsuits in Thailand’s poultry supply chain. https://globallaborjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Supplying-SLAPPs_GLJ-ILRF_ICAR_March-2023.pdf
Greenpeace. (2020). Sued into silence: How the rich and powerful use legal tactics to shut critics up. https://www.greenpeace.org/static/planet4-eu-unit-stateless/2020/07/20200722-SLAPPs-Sued-into-Silence.pdf
Hasell, J. (2023). Measuring inequality: What is the Gini coefficient?. OurWorldInData. https://ourworldindata.org/what-is-the-gini-coefficient.
Hewison, K. (2014). Considerations on inequality and politics in Thailand. Democratization, 21(5), 846-866. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2014.882910
Hill, H. (2017). Southeast Asia in the global economy: A selective analytical survey. Philippe Review of Economics, LIV(2), 1-36. https://econ.upd.edu.ph/pre/index.php/pre/article/viewFile/953/852
Hirschman, A. O. (1970). Exit, voice, and loyalty. Responses to decline in firms, organizations, and states. Harvard University Press.
Hirschman, A. O. (1973). The changing tolerance for income inequality in the course of economic development. World Development, 1(2), 29-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-750X(73)90109-5
Human Rights Lawyers Association. (2019). Recommendations on the protection of those who exercise their rights and freedoms from strategic lawsuits against public participation. https://th.boell.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/Final_TRANS-report-SLAPP_A5.pdf
Human Rights Lawyers Association & iLaw (2019). What is SLAPP & why you should care. https://freedom.ilaw.or.th/sites/default/files/AGO%20-%20SLAPP%20Factsheet%20-%20ENG%20-%2011.11.2019.pdf
Inglehart, R., Haerpfer, C., Welzel, C., Kizilova, K., Diez-Medrano, J., Lagos, M., Norris, P., Ponarin, E., & Puranen, B. (2014). World Values Survey 2010-2014, Wave 6. https://catalog.ihsn.org/catalog/8838/related-materials
International Commission of Jurists. (2022). Thailand: Abusive lawsuits targeting journalists (SLAPPs) must be curtailed. https://www.icj.org/thailand-abusive-lawsuits-targeting-journalists-slapps-must-be-curtailed/
Jenmana, T. (2018). Democratisation and the emergence of class conflicts: Income inequality in Thailand, 2001-2016. WID.world Working Paper no. 2018/15. https://wid.world/document/democratisation-and-the-emergence-of-class-conflicts-income-inequality-in-thailand-2001-2016-wid-world-working-paper-2018-15/
Kaewjullakarn, S. & Homket, B. (2023). Laws and measures addressing strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) in the context of business and human rights. United Nations Development Programme Thailand. https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2023-07/eng_slapp_text_30_june_online_final.pdf
Kangkun, P. (2023). Thai companies should not be able to jail their critics. Nikkei Asia. https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Thai-companies-should-not-be-able-to-jail-their-critics
Kurer, T., Hausermann, S., Wuest, B., & Enggist. (2019). Economic grievances and political protest. European Journal of Political Research, 58(3), 866-892. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6765.12318
Laovakul, D. (2016). Concentration of land and other wealth in Thailand. In P. Phongpaichit, & C. Baker (Eds.), Unequal Thailand: Aspects of Income, Wealth and Power (pp. 32-42). National University of Singapore Press.
Mańko, R. (2023). Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). BRIEFING EU Legislation in Progress. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2022/733668/EPRS_BRI(2022)733668_EN.pdf
Mcgoey, L. (2012). The logic of strategic ignorance. The British Journal of Sociology, 63(3), 553–576. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-4446.2012.01424.x.
Ngamkaiwan, C. (2023). A green criminological framework for PM2.5 pollution prevention in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Journal of Population and Social Studies, 31, 534–552. https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jpss/article/view/264065
Ngamkaiwan, C. (2023). Secondary green crime: Bangkok’s PM2.5 pollution and policy corruption. International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy [Advance online publication]. https://doi.org/10.5204/ijcjsd.2857
Norman, C. S. (2010). Anti-SLAPP legislation and environmental protection in the USA: An overview of direct and indirect effects. Review of European Community & International Environmental Law, 19(1), 28-34. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9388.2010.00659.x
Pring, G. W., & Canan, P. (1996). SLAPPs: Getting sued for speaking out. Temple University Press
Ravallion, M., & Lokshin, M. (2000). Who wants to redistribute?: The tunnel effect in 1990s Russia. Journal of Public Economics, 76(1), 87-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0047-2727(99)00064-X
Rawski, F. (2020, March 20). Re: Concerns on the existing legal frameworks that are designated to prevent strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP lawsuits) [Letter from Director, Asia and the Pacific Programme International Commission of Jurists]. https://www.icj.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Thailand-SLAPP-Lawsuits-Letter-2020-ENG.pdf
Rodrik, D. (2012). The globalization paradox: Why global markets, states, and democracy can’t coexist. Oxford University Press.
Schaufele, B. (2022). Chilling effects from Anti-SLAPP laws (MPRA Paper No. 113740). Munich Personal RePEc Archive. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/113740/1/MPRA_paper_113740.pdf
Shapiro, P. (2010). SLAPPs: Intent or content? Anti-SLAPP legislation goes international. Review of European Community and International Environmental Law, 19(1), 14 - 27. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9388.2010.00661.x
Solt, F. (2015). Economic inequality and nonviolent protest. Social Science Quarterly, 96(5), 1314-1327. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.12198
Tassanakunlapan, T. (2019). The problems and prospects on supporting the right to association in cyberspace for expression in the issues of natural resource and environment. King Prajadhipok's Institute. https://shorturl.at/efouK
United Kingdom's Ministry of Justice. (2022). Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs): Government response to the call for evidence. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1093987/SLAPPs-call-for-evidence-response.pdf
United Nations Environment Programme. (2023). Environmental rule of law and human rights in Asia Pacific: Strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs). https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/43137/litigation_public_participation_SLAPPS.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
Wang, P., Pan, J., & Luo, Z. (2014). The impact of income inequality on individual happiness: Evidence from China. Social Indicators Research, 121, 413-415. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24721533
Warr, P. G. (2004). Globalization, growth, and poverty reduction in Thailand. ASEAN Economic Bulletin, 21(1), 1-18. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25773799
Warr, P. G., and Nidhiprabha, B. (1996). Thailand’s macroeconomic miracle: Stable adjustment and sustained growth, 1966 to 1996. World Bank and Oxford University Press.
Warr, P. G., and Suphannachart, W. (2020). Benign growth: Structural transformation and inclusive growth in Thailand. WIDER Working Paper No. 2020/46. UNU-WIDER. https://doi.org/10.35188/UNU-WIDER/2020/803-0
Wells, B., & Marzen, C. G. (2016). Getting SLAPPed: A 21st century business risk. Social Science Research Network. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2626178
White, R. (2009). Environmental victims and resistance to state crime through transnational activism. Social Justice, 36(3(117)), 46–60. https://www.jstor.org/stable/29768548
White, R. (2010). A green criminology perspective. In E. McLaughin & T. Newburn (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of criminological theory (pp. 410–426). SAGE Publications.
Wilkins, K. G., Nadarajah, R., & Shapiro, P. (2010). Breaking the silence: The urgent need for anti-SLAPP legislation in Ontario. EcoJustice. https://www.ecojustice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Breaking-the-Silence_the-need-for-anti-SLAPP-legislation.pdf
World Bank. (1993). The East Asian miracle: Economic growth and public policy. Oxford University Press.
World Bank. (2015). World Development Report 2015. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/645741468339541646/pdf/928630WDR0978100Box385358B00PUBLIC0.pdf
World Bank. (2023). World Development Indicators. https://databank.worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators
Haerpfer, C., Inglehart, R., Moreno, A., Welzel, C., Kizilova, K., Diez-Medrano J., Lagos, M. Norris, P., Ponarin, E., & Puranen, B.. (2022). World Values Survey: Round Seven - Country-Pooled Datafile Version 5.0. Madrid, Spain & Vienna, Austria: JD Systems Institute & WVSA Secretariat. https://doi.org/10.14281/18241.20
Zorob, M. (2020). Defending defenders: Challenging malicious lawsuits in Southeast Asia. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. https://media.business-humanrights.org/media/documents/files/documents/2020_CLA_Annual_Briefing_SLAPPs_SEA_FINAL.pdf