Publication

This working paper addresses the insurgency in Thailand’s south and analyzes whether the reasons behind this conflict are religious or ethnic. The paper attempts to explain the transformation of the southern Thailand conflict from a primarily ethnic discord to a predominantly religious strife. It argues that this change can be best explained by considering the role of identity in the conflict. The author argues that the interplay and manipulation of the ethnic Malay and Thai identity and the religious Islamic and Buddhist identity are key factors that explain the change in the character of the unrest.