On March 28, 2011, The Asia Foundation in Thailand released findings from its second national public perception survey of 1,500 Thai citizens. One of the most comprehensive public perception surveys since the tumultuous political events of April-May 2010, the report explores the depth of color divisions in contemporary Thailand. Read more about the national Thailand survey.
Groundbreaking public perception poll in Thailand's troubled Deep South
Rare insights on a conflict that defies easy understanding or clear practical solution
Since 2004, the southern border provinces of Yala, Narathiwas, and Pattani have been the locus of an indigenous separatist movement and communal conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and injured thousands more. The population remains exposed and vulnerable to a volatile environment of tension, insecurity, and uncertainty. While good-faith efforts to poll citizens of the Deep South have been made in the past, southerners are reluctant to speak candidly in formal settings—reflecting a combination of traditional norms, security concerns, and lack of confidence in the sincerity of government efforts to understand the unique cultural identity of Pattani-Malays. In 2010, to identify critical issues sustaining the conflict and explore the prospect of compromise, we recruited and trained field workers from the Deep South for our first-ever, in-person public opinion survey in the border provinces, collecting the views of 750 respondents. More than 37 percent of Muslims polled said the main cause of the southern conflict is the failure of officials to understand the local population, while 17 percent felt that separatism is the main issue. Thirty-one percent of the Buddhist population of the region identified separatism as the main cause, while 24 percent cited lack of government understanding. On several issues, both groups held similar views, indicating support for reforms that would improve prospects for peace. As national elections approach, the southern survey results will provide insights for political leaders, government officials, academics, and international observers.
2010 National Survey of the Thai Electorate
Conducted by The Asia Foundation's office in Thailand, the 2010 National Survey of the Thai Electorate: Exploring National Consensus and Color Polarization is our second national public perception survey of 1,500 Thai citizens. One of the most comprehensive public perception surveys since the tumultuous political events of April-May 2010, the report explores the depth of color divisions in contemporary Thailand. Key topics covered include the state of democracy in Thailand, elections, color politics, conflict and security, and options for reconciliation.
- 2010 National Survey of the Thai Electorate: Exploring National Consensus and Color Polarization in English; in Thai
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in English; in Thai
- Press Release in English; in Thai
Previous surveys
- Constitutional Reform and Democracy in Thailand - A National Survey of the Thai People (2009)
- Democracy and Conflict in Southern Thailand: A Survey of the Thai Electorate in Yala, Narathiwas, and Pattani (2010)
