Emotions and Awareness of Rights among the Thais

  • Pawakapan, Niti (Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University)
  • Received : 2015.03.10
  • Accepted : 2015.12.01
  • Published : 2015.12.31

Abstract

This article is based on a research conducted from 2009 to 2012, on the political disputes in Thailand. During the data collections periods, it was common to hear the frustration, bitterness and anger, expressed by the Redshirts, especially those who lived in the northeast and northern regions. Coming from the said research, this paper will examine the relationship between emotions and rights. According to the sociology of emotions, there are connections between macrolevel social processes and the arousal of emotions. Emotions arising from macrostructural processes may affect individuals at the microlevel, prompting them into actions collectively. In addition, expressions of resentment and articulation for vengeance can be interpreted as the emotions related to the awareness of rights, which may include the rights to one's needs and the access to resources that fulfill such needs. It will demonstrate how emotions, political demonstrations and the increasing awareness of rights, are related.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This paper was first presented at the 2015 International Conference of ISEAS/BUFS on April 24, 2015. I would like to thank the conference's participants and, especially, Professor Hong Koo Kim, for their valuable comments and questions. I would also like to thank the two reviewers for their comments. Michael Montesano and Patrick Jory read the first draft and saved me from further embarrassments. Apichat Satitniramai and Yukti Mukdawijitra have accompanied me in the academic inquiry since 2009. And Pian Pawakapan keeps me sane in Thailand's current insane atmosphere.

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