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Abstract

Civil society is often regarded as an essential foundation for democratic consolidation, but in Thailand, civil society also plays a crucial role in maintaining authoritarian rule. This article analyzes how pro-authoritarian civil society movements—Thai Bhakdi and “We Support Prayuth”—emerged and operated in the context of the historical relationship between the military and the monarchy and political polarisation since the 2006 coup. Using the authoritarian civil society (ACS) framework and a comparative historical analysis approach, this study traces how the long-standing divide between reformist and conservative forces created fertile ground for these movements. Thai Bhakdi, rooted in monarchist nationalism, mobilises offline and digital activism to defend the monarchy, emphasising national identity and using lèse majesté laws to silence criticism. “We Support Prayuth,” in line with the military-led narrative of stability, legitimises extraordinary powers such as Article 44 to strengthen the junta’s authority. Using archival data, academic literature, and social media content, the findings show that these movements—though formally independent from the state—function as autonomous enforcers of the royal-military-conservative order. Rather than countering authoritarianism, Thailand’s polarised civil society has legitimised it, narrowing the space for democracy and reinforcing a path-dependent cycle of democratic backsliding.

Bahasa Abstract

Masyarakat sipil sering dianggap sebagai landasan penting bagi konsolidasi demokrasi, namun di Thailand, masyarakat sipil juga memainkan peran krusial dalam mempertahankan pemerintahan otoriter. Artikel ini menganalisis bagaimana gerakan masyarakat sipil pro-otoriter—Thai Bhakdi dan “We Support Prayuth”—muncul dan beroperasi dalam konteks hubungan historis antara militer dan monarki serta polarisasi politik sejak kudeta 2006. Menggunakan kerangka kerja Masyarakat Sipil Otoriter (ACS) dan pendekatan analisis historis komparatif, studi ini melacak bagaimana perpecahan yang telah lama ada antara kekuatan reformis dan konservatif menciptakan lahan subur bagi gerakan-gerakan ini. Thai Bhakdi, yang berakar pada nasionalisme monarkis, menggerakkan aktivisme offline dan digital untuk membela monarki, menekankan identitas nasional, dan menggunakan undang-undang lèse majesté untuk membungkam kritik. “We Support Prayuth,” sejalan dengan narasi militer tentang stabilitas, melegitimasi kekuasaan luar biasa seperti Pasal 44 untuk memperkuat otoritas junta. Menggunakan data arsip, literatur akademik, dan konten media sosial, temuan menunjukkan bahwa gerakan-gerakan ini—meskipun secara formal independen dari negara—berfungsi sebagai penegak otonom dari tatanan kerajaan-militer-konservatif. Alih-alih menentang otoritarianisme, masyarakat sipil Thailand yang terpolarisasi telah melegitimasi otoritarianisme tersebut, mempersempit ruang demokrasi, dan memperkuat siklus ketergantungan yang mengarah pada kemunduran demokrasi.

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