Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
acceptedVersion
Publication Date
3-2024
Abstract
The Move Forward Party’s victory in Thailand’s 14 May 2566 (2023 CE) election surprised most observers, defying widespread predictions of a Pheu Thai win. Departing from traditional vote-mobilization strategies, Move Forward’s campaign focused largely on social media and broad calls for political reform while eschewing the vote-canvassing networks and economic policy promises that had delivered victory after victory for Pheu Thai. Does Move Forward’s win indicate changes in Thai voting behaviour? Relying on data from an original survey collected the week before and the week after the election, as well as observations from fieldwork, we identify two political cleavages that were influential in shaping vote choice: age and ideology. Younger voters and those who embrace more liberal values were significantly more likely to support Move Forward. Nevertheless, we caution that this election may be unique, and that these political cleavages may not necessarily drive voter behaviour in future elections.
Keywords
election, Thailand, electoral cleavages, ideology, young voters
Discipline
Asian Studies | Political Science | Politics and Social Change | Social Influence and Political Communication
Research Areas
Political Science
Publication
Pacific Affairs
Volume
97
Issue
1
First Page
117
Last Page
136
ISSN
0030-851X
Identifier
10.5509/2024971-art6
Publisher
Pacific Affairs
Citation
JATUSRIPITAK, Napon, & RICKS, Jacob.(2024). Age and ideology: The emergence of new political cleavages in Thailand’s 2566 (2023) election. Pacific Affairs, 97(1), 117-136.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3911
Copyright Owner and License
Authors-CC-BY
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.5509/2024971-art6
Included in
Asian Studies Commons, Political Science Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Social Influence and Political Communication Commons