Authoritarianism now runs rampant in some parts of Southeast Asia. I was a correspondent in this region from 2006 through 2010, and then returned there in 2019. Compared to my previous experience, I strongly felt the spread of authoritarianism and the suppressed social atmosphere that it caused.
Thailand is one such Asian country undergoing a rise of authoritarianism. From early 2000 to around 2010, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was prime minister from 2001 to 2006, had influence over politics during a time of significant economic growth. He brought business into politics, establishing a new style of rule in Thailand. However, military and business conglomerates with long vested interests were not happy about him and his supporters. The two sides came into conflict and fought each other on the street for many years. Eventually, Thaksin was forced to leave the country. Even so, the military was eager to eliminate his influence in politics at any cost, resulting in a military coup in 2014 that ousted a government associated with Thaksin.
