Exploring Civil Disobedience Movement of Civilians in Thailand 2020-2021: Context, Conflict and Nonviolent Action

Abstract

This study had explored civil disobedience movement of civilians in Thailand between 2020 and 2021. Then, apart from context and conflict, the study had emphasized nonviolent action by identifying its methods and types those can be categorized according to the framework applied in this study. The study had applied qualitative method and both primary data and secondary data had been gathered for analysis. As it was my initial exploration, it looked at general nature and dynamics of action of the process. The theoretically framework had been applied flexibly and the data had been analyzed and placed into the framework properly. Therefore, within the three categories of nonviolent action - such as protest and persuasion, noncooperation, and intervention - five types and thirteen methods of nonviolent action had been identified. In types: protests and demonstrations, online activism and campaigns, persuasion, general strikes, and occupation of public spaces. In methods: marching on the roads and streets, using signposts, slogans and demands, speeches, arts, symbolic acts of resistance, information dissemination about the movement and mobilization, networking and alliance, boycotts, shutting down or refusal of follow - the normal functioning of society, asking political demands part of strikes, drawing attention, and blocking - public rallies. Moreover, along with the study, arguments such as '2020-2021 Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) of civilians in Thailand, not only it was a nonviolent action but also it included violent behaviors', and 'Thailand's 2020-2021 nonviolent CDM was failed by the political demands' have been validated.