Thailand’s New Conservative Turn

Fulcrum editor William Choong talks to Mathis Lohatepanont about the implications of the recent elections in Thailand. Mr Lohatepanont, a frequent contributor to Fulcrum, is a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Political Science, University of Michigan.

Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were discussed:

2:10 – A decisive outcome in the recent Thai elections

5:08 – Will reported procedural irregularities undermine the election results?

8:46 – The key factors behind Bhumjaithai’s rise to prominence

14:30 – Bhumjaithai’s adoption of the populist “half-half” policy

17:05  – The future of the People’s Party

23:27 – Has the Pheu Thai Party reached the end of the road?

27:57 – The Democrat Party and its pullback from extinction

34:20 – Will Thailand remain stuck at the conservative end of the political spectrum?

37:21 – The question of political reforms under a conservative government

40:05 – Thailand’s approach towards the dispute with Cambodia, and the popular mood towards the war in Iran