Political Opinions of Thai Muslims on Social Media on Policies of Political Parties in Thailand’s General Election on 14th May 2023

Abstract

Objectives: This article examines Thai Muslims’ political opinions on social media and the policies of political parties in Thailand's general election on 14 May 2023.

Methodology: The authors employed the concept of political Islam as a framework to analyze and observe the political opinions of Muslims expressed through social media during the political parties' campaign period leading up to the May 14, 2023, election. The study period spanned from January to May 2023. The social media platforms examined included Facebook and its related features, such as Facebook pages, Reels, and Stories. The content analyzed encompassed Facebook pages of various news agencies, both from the broader Thai society and Muslim-specific outlets; pages of Muslim politicians; pages of various political parties; as well as personal Facebook accounts of Muslim scholars and the general Muslim populace.

Research findings: The study revealed that Thai Muslims exhibit distinct characteristics compared to non-Muslims when expressing political opinions on Facebook. A segment of the Muslim population utilizes an Islamic worldview to support arguments against opposing views on Facebook, particularly concerning policies proposed by political parties. The research team analyzed the political opinions of Thai Muslims during the period leading up to the May 14, 2023, election, categorizing them into seven types: Conservative Perspective, Liberal Perspective, Malay/Muslim Perspective, Hybrid Perspective, Candidate-Centric Perspective, Abstention from Selecting Any Candidate or Political Party and Non-Participation in Voting.

Contribution: The study introduces factors that potentially caused the differences among Muslim's political opinions. It explores how different groups of Thai Muslims prioritized social and political issues differently and how they conceived the information differently, particularly concerning Southern Thailand's unrest. In the future, the challenging prospect for Thai Muslims is probably to have a political party that can suit the demand and be "a hope" of the entire Muslim communities in Thailand beyond liberal or conservative parties.