The Constitutional Process in the Conflict Resolution Between State and Minority: A Study of the Role of Religious Leaders in the Democratic Process in the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand

Abstract

This research aimed at the study of arguments about constitutionalism in system of Muslim political thoughts. The study focuses on the adoption of constitutional system in the two centers of the Muslims world, namely, the Ottoman Turkey and Iran, the center of the Sunni Islam and the Shiite respectively. The Muslims’ views on politics and governance around the world also influenced by these changes, including the Malayu Muslims Patani in southern Thailand. This research is conducted through qualitative method by which depth interviews and focus group were employed with the key informants of the religious leaders in the three provinces of southern Thailand. The study found that the Malayu Muslims appropriated the idea of constitutional system, and they participated in the democratic process when the political climate was opened. The success of the campaign conducted by Patani’s religious leaders to rejection of constitution 2017 was yet another proves that the people of Patani aware of the implications of constitution system on their life and their society. This constitution’s awareness can be mobilized to have Patani’s courses written in the new constitution. This would be another way of the minority Malayu Muslims to coexist peacefully with the Thai.