Empowerment Strategies of Social Movements Through the Mediascape in Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the power construction of social movement using mediascape of the Assembly of the Poor of Rasi Salai Dam. The findings show that the social movement used public mediascape to broaden public support and to make an impact on policy makers. Mutual understanding and sympathy from the public were created in order to be the witnesses in the social movement. The conditions for success of these marginal people in using the right to communicate were: 1) advanced technology and the ability to access technology, 2) the use of social networking, and 3) media reform in Thailand, which has generated varied communication channels especially broadcasting and online media.