A lot happens every day. Alliances shift, leaders change, and conflicts erupt. With In Brief, we’ll help you make sense of it all. Each week, experts will dig deep on a single issue happening in the world to help you better understand it.***On May 14, 2023, people in Thailand voted overwhelmingly for an end to the military-backed government that has ruled the country for nearly a decade. The opposition Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties won the majority of seats in parliament; however, it is unclear if they will actually get the chance to govern. We asked three experts to tell us how things might play out and how it could affect security in the region. Jittipat Poonkham Associate Professor of International Relations Thammasat UniversityThailand’s national elections on May 14, 2023, resulted in an “orange” victory by the Move Forward Party. If nominated as prime minister, Pita Limjaroenrat is likely to transform Thailand. Debunking a Thai-style bamboo diplomacy, Pita’s foreign policy would be rules-based and would uphold liberal principles such as human rights and the rule of law. Pita would take a tougher stance on Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine and on authoritarian regimes, especially in Myanmar. According to Pita, Thai foreign policy should be “more à la carte than buffet.” Ultimately, international and regional issues will be approached on a case-by-case basis to maintain a balancing act. To navigate the intense U.S.-Chinese geopolitical rivalry, Thailand will reposition itself as a more principled and independent player in a rules-based, multilateral world. Susannah Patton Director, Southeast Asia Program, Lowy InstituteMove Forward, the big winner from Thailand’s election, promises a new foreign policy. It wants to establish a humanitarian corridor to Myanmar and supports more diplomacy on Myanmar in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Its ambition to revitalize Thai democracy would likely chime
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A lot happens every day. Alliances shift, leaders change, and conflicts erupt. With In Brief, we’ll help you make sense of it all. Each week, experts will dig deep on a single issue happening in the world to help you better understand it.***On May 14, 2023, people in Thailand voted overwhelmingly for an end to the military-backed government that has ruled the country for nearly a decade. The opposition Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties won the majority of seats in parliament; however, it is unclear if they will actually get the chance to govern. We asked three experts to