From Silence to the Last Straw: The Awakening of Thai Nationalism in Response to Perceived Threats to State Sovereignty

Abstract

     This article aims to analyze the phenomenon of the leaked “audio conversation” between Thai and Cambodian leaders which became a major trigger event driving political change and civic mobilization in Thailand in 2025. The analysis integrates Nationalism, Social Movement Theory, and Digital Political Communication to propose a new explanatory framework called “Dignity-Based Nationalism.”
      This framework identifies a mechanism of “Triggered and Self-Reliant Mobilization under Leaderless Conditions” in four stages: 1) Silence, when citizens although dissatisfied with government policies remained patient under a majority government; 2) Awareness and Shame, when the leaked audio on Facebook became a trigger event that challenged national dignity and spread rapidly through digital media; 3) Distrust of Leadership, which led to political party withdrawal and mobilization by civil society; and 4) Defense of National Dignity, expressed through collective actions such as donations, providing supplies, and emotional mobilization online. These stages demonstrate that although citizens began with silence and tolerance, once national dignity was challenged, they developed awareness, lost trust in leadership, and ultimately united to defend the nation— reflecting the shared Thai identity captured in the phrase: “Thailand stays calm, yet in war does not fear.”