Dynamics of the Peaceful Countermovements in Southern Thailand
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Abstract
This research aims to explain the countermovement against violence in Thailand's southern border provinces, which has emerged from the conflict among movements, the state, and countermovements. It also seeks to develop a correlation model to describe the interactions among these actors and to identify the mechanisms and processes underlying the interactions during the period from 2004 to 2024. A mixed-methods research approach is employed. The qualitative component is based on documentary research and a review of 207 works to analyze and explain the situation in the southern border provinces. This paper enables a better understanding of the emergence and decline of various forms of resistance in the region. The quantitative component involves content analysis to study the status of the countermovement against violence, which has evolved through four distinct phases of conflict. This evolution reflects a growing awareness that "violence contradicts the normal or peaceful state of society" and is a major cause of the ongoing cycle of conflict. This realization has led to increased involvement by various actors, such as civil society organizations and international organizations, who have incorporated peace-based approaches into their operations, with variation across different periods. In the first phase, where violence escalated, efforts are focused on providing relief and support to those affected. In contrast, during the third phase, marked by a gradual decline in violence, efforts are focused on strengthening local capacity, improving effectiveness, and advancing a peace process to resolve the conflict.
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