Journal of Political and Social Agenda

“เรื่องจริงยังต้องแต่ง” วรรณศิลป์ของการนำเสนอข้อเท็จจริง และการประยุกต์ใช้ศิลปะการเขียนสารคดีสะท้อนชายแดนภาคใต้ใน “แต่งเรื่องจริง”

Amanee Abudolae — 2025-06-28

In the field of writing studies, written works are generally categorized into two major types: fiction and non-fiction. The primary distinction between the two lies in the element of embellishment or composition, wherein the writer employs literary techniques to enhance the appeal and engagement of the text. From an academic perspective, fiction refers to a genre of literary works such as novels, short stories, and plays—creative compositions that construct imagined scenarios mimicking reality, yet are not entirely grounded in factual truth.

Zakat Management for Community Economic Development: Practices, Challenges and Development Opportunities in Coastal Communities of Pattani Province

Aris Hassama — 2025-06-28

This research examined practices and challenges in zakat management for economic development in coastal communities of Pattani province. Data was collected through focus group discussions with religious leaders, community leaders, and enterprise leaders in 6 communities. The findings revealed differences among communities in collection efficiency, management approaches, and development vision. Communities with modern management systems showed higher collection rates and transparency. Key challenges included limited collection amounts, dependency on fish pier ownership, and lack of occupational development support. Development opportunities were identified in three areas: digital technology, community collaboration, and occupational group development. The study suggests standardizing zakat management systems, promoting systematic use of zakat for occupational development, and supporting community enterprises aligned with Islamic principles.

The Forgotten Bombs: America’s Secret Nuclear Deployment in the Philippines During the Cold War

Thapiporn Suporn — 2025-06-28

Why did the stationing of weapons of mass destruction in the Philippines not jeopardize Washington-Manila relations? This paper critically examines the clandestine deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons in the Philippines during the Cold War—a move that made the country a potential nuclear target and infringed upon its sovereignty. Drawing on declassified documents from the National Security Archive, it argues that the Philippines’ strategic culture, which heavily relied on the United States as its sole security guarantor, played a central role. Despite regional initiatives such as the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, the United States forward-deployed approximately 250 nuclear weapons in the Philippines, effectively turning the country into a potential flashpoint. This research explores how military cooperation and strategic reciprocity between the Marcos and Nixon governments led Philippine elites to prioritize the U.S. alliance over sovereignty and nuclear risks. Despite Marcos’s declaration of martial law in 1972 and the widespread human rights abuses that followed, the Nixon administration continued to support his regime, largely overlooking these issues due to shared anti-communist objectives and the strategic importance of U.S. military bases in the Philippines. Even after learning about the nuclear arsenals stationed at these U.S. bases, the Marcos regime continued to view the United States as its traditional ally, later receiving full support from the Nixon administration following the revelation of the nuclear weapons. This paper concludes that the Philippines’ strategic culture of relying on the United States as a security guarantor also contributed to the stability of bilateral ties, with the U.S. playing the role of protector and the Philippines adopting a strategic accommodation posture.

The History of the Muslim’s printed media movement and the presentation of Islam through printed media in Thai society, 1910s-1950s, by studying through the printed media in the central part of the country

Artyasit Srisuwan — 2025-06-28

This article aimed to studies the Muslim’s printed media and the presentation of Islam through printed media in Thai society, including the production and distribution of books, determining the period from the 1910s to the 1950s. According to previous surveys of studies on such printed media, a suggestion is found that the oldest Muslim’s printed media in Thai-language had begun to be published in late 1930s. This article presents and analysis from primary source, that the movement of this type of printing media in Thai society had been published since the late 1900s, which was the golden period of the printing business. In addition, the emergence of Muslim publications and publications that presented topic concerning Islam are linked to political and cultural contexts, including various phenomena and changes in Thai history. The scope of this article will end at the 1957 because it is a time when the movement of the above publications seems to have halted and disappeared in Thai society.

Thailand’s Border Policy amid the Cross-Border Crisis from Myanmar

Atchareeya Saisin — 2025-06-28

This article primarily aims to analyze Thailand’s border policy in the context of impacts arising from the crisis in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup. The coup has triggered a range of cross-border issues—including humanitarian concerns, security challenges, and transnational threats. Employing a qualitative research methodology, the study analyzes secondary data from academic literature, reports by relevant agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the media, covering the period from 2021 to 2024, with a focus on the Thai–Myanmar border. The study finds that Thailand's border management continues to prioritize state security over human rights principles, resulting in limitations on the protection of displaced persons and refugees. Responses to the situation are often ad hoc, lacking a systematic legal or institutional framework. This has led to uncertainty in policy measures, absence of shared operational standards, and a lack of continuity in long-term management. Additionally, the article highlights policy limitations in addressing transnational threats, particularly cross-border crime. It provides an analysis at both the policy structure and implementation levels, comparing Thailand’s border policies with those of neighboring countries such as India, Laos, and Bangladesh. The article proposes recommendations for improving Thailand’s policy system in the long term, emphasizing a balance between state sovereignty and human rights principles. It also underscores the critical role of civil society in filling the gaps left by the state and advocates for its formal inclusion as a policy partner.

Editorial Note

EKKARIN TUANSIRI — 2025-06-28