From ‘Street’ to ‘Parliament’: Why Thai NGOs and Activists Forming the Commoners’ Party and Running as the Future Forward Party’s Electoral Candidates
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Abstract
Thai NGOs had been under heavy criticism throughout the previous decade. In recent years, many NGOs and activists decided to step into the electoral arena in which they once never imagined taking part. This article uses qualitative research to investigate the conditions influencing Thai NGOs and activists to form the Commoners' party. Also, it examines under what conditions NGOs and activists took part in the Future Forward party's candidates in the 2019 general election.This article shows that the NGOs and activists' decision to form the commoner's party came about from their interest in rearranging the social movements' relations to the Thai state and powerful institutions. One of the primary reasons for the NGOs and activists to form the party was to seek a new 'democratic' way to create political and social changes. Such will and attempt developed under specific circumstances, such as criticisms towards Thailand's 'conservative civil society' and inspiration from an ideology and tactics pursued by movements in Thailand and overseas. The decision of individual NGOs and activists to run under FFP originated from their attempt at the new 'dual' strategy: gaining seats in the legislative body and pursuing extra-parliamentary movements. Also, it arose from its aim to make changes in political and social structures and policies. These Ngos' and activists' moves were a consequence of an interplay of various factors, including the failure of social movements' usual strategy, the NGOs and activists' dissatisfaction towards politicians and existing political parties, the government's violation of civil and political rights, the challenging atmosphere toward existing political and social structures and institutions, and the recruitment of 'new faces' into political parties.
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