Peacebuilding in Thailand’s Deep South and in Myanmar/Burma: the dynamic roles of Muslim minorities in conflict societies

Abstract

There are few if any comparative studies of Thailand’s Deep South and Burma/Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis. Both cases are intriguing as they have similar characteristics, while nuanced by distinctive contexts and political consequences. In this article, the comparative analysis of crisis issues in the two countries concentrates on history, policy responses of governments, and peace processes. Burma/Myanmar and Thailand are Buddhist majority countries with different approaches of national integration. Based on a long history of independence, Malay Muslims of Thailand’s Deep South have always been disturbed by intensive assimilation policies, but their right to Thai citizenship has never been legally compromised. On the contrary, Rohingya people have been excluded from Burma/Myanmar’s national integration. The Thai state uses both violence and persuasion, but the peace process tends to integrate into the hierarchy and power of military domination. On the other hand, Burma/Myanmar’s conflict management is highly suppressive and exclusive. Thailand’s southern peacebuilding involves expanding state-building and illiberal peace, while Burma/Myanmar’s conflict management policy in Rakhine State is much higher on the scale of authoritarian “peace.”