Perception of Hierarchy Among Student Activists in the Thai Youth Movement 2020-2022

Abstract

The 2020-2022 youth driven protests marked a significant upheaval in Thai society. Sparked initially by the dissolution of the oppositional party Future Forward and the disappearance of political exile Wanchalearm Satsaksit, they quickly expanded to demand far broader political reforms – including reforming the monarchy. This paper explores the societal implications of the protests, in particularly in challenging hierarchical structures. While previous research has focused on the political and economic factors and drivers, this paper argues that the demands by the youth movement aim at deeper societal reform. Despite some success, the movement’s internal dynamics reveal the persistence of hierarchical structures, highlighting the challenges in dismantling long existing and ingrained social norms and structures.