Resolving the Conflict in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces: Contentions between Upholding State Authority and Human Rights within the asean Context

Abstract

Abstract Based on an examination of the peace process in Thailand’s southern border provinces, this article asks what are the important lessons learned for strengthening asean’s role in conflict resolution. The argument of this article is threefold. First, asean’s entrenched norms have prevented a regularised role for asean in the area of conflict resolution. Second, due to this arrangement, asean member states have applied a varied mix of approaches to resolving or managing ethnic conflicts. From a comparative perspective, the Thai approach to resolving the conflict falls in an in-between position along the spectrum of democratic and authoritarian means used by its fellow asean member states. Third, the lack of regularised procedures is not necessarily an obstacle to resolving conflict but it reduces opportunities to deepen regional cooperation. More pressing is asean’s inability to protect minority rights, which has negatively affected asean’s centrality, and its commitment to building a people-centred community.