Political Behavior of Student Leaders in Southern Border Provinces of Thailand During the 2023 House of Representatives Election

Abstract

Student leaders serve as significant voices and influential figures for the younger generation in Thailand's southern border provinces. This research article examines the political behavior of student leaders in this region during the 2023 House of Representatives election. Using a qualitative research methodology, the study purposively selected 15 key informants who were student leaders with political participation experience from the southern border provinces. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

The findings reveal that political behavior among student leaders can be categorized into three distinct patterns: 1) Political observation, wherein key informants monitored news, political party policies, government operations, politicians' behavior, and engaged in political discussions with individuals in their social circles; 2) Political participation, which included voting, encouraging others to vote, attending both online and on-site political speeches, and disseminating political information through social media platforms; and 3) Political partnership, where most key informants demonstrated limited engagement. The majority had not participated in activities associated with political party membership, election campaigning, attending party meetings, making financial donations or fundraising, submitting political petitions or participating in protests, or expressing interest in holding political positions. The study found that social media platforms constituted the primary channel through which student leaders expressed their political views and engaged in political activities.