Thais need to see many colours aside from red and yellow
Corrupt politicians, abuse of power, military coups, vote buying, self-censorship - these are often cited by Thais as evils plaguing Thai politics. But the problem of dichotomous thinking - or "black or white" thinking - is seldom discussed.
The narrow view of politics informed by dichotomous thinking continues to plague Thai politics and society. Perhaps a crash course in its defects is urgently needed because society is being increasingly weighed down by mutual hatred based on simplistic and false dichotomous thinking – of us versus them. The seemingly never ending categorisation of those who hold differing political views as “the other” and “the enemy” is taking a heavy toll as mutual political hatred spreads on the Net and beyond.
Never, since the end of the failed communist insurgency three decades ago, has the Thai public been so pushed by its desire to suppress, if not banish, those who think differently and regard them as evil. Dichotomous thinking is easy, as it is only lazy thinking. In times of hunting-gathering, the human need was to quickly identify whether a stranger was a friend or foe, whether to fight or flee from an approaching animal. It was a matter of survival.
Good versus evil, friend or foe, us against them – these dichotomies may have served us well in the Stone Age, but they’re utterly inadequate in a democratic and free society, as they tend to reinforce the division of people, with a belief that only one side is right. The urge to brand and suppress those regarded as being on the wrong side can hinder society from producing alternatives.
Under this simplistic dichotomous thinking, you are either with ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra or against him, either a royalist or anti-royalist. Also, if you oppose the 2006 coup, which ousted Thaksin, you must be either his fan or his lackey. And if you oppose the lese majeste law, you must be anti-monarchist and a closet republican.
Such thinking is perpetuating the polarisation of Thai politics and society, to the point where there appears to be no conceivable solution, more than six years after the coup. What society needs, however, is space for political diversity. Those who opposed the coup as a matter of principle must show they’re willing to criticise Thaksin and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Likewise, well-intentioned royalists, who value freedom of expression and accountability, must differentiate themselves from ultra-royalists who consider any opposition to the lese majeste law an attack on the monarchy.
If we continue to allow this dichotomous thinking to continue unchallenged, the side which emerges “victorious” will likely repress its ‘enemies’ to the point where no matter who wins, it will most likely produce a self-righteous dictatorial society.
Thais need to stop seeing politics like rooting for their favourite English Premier League football team, where their love is unconditional, and believe that their team is always right and that total defeat of rivals is a cause to rejoice. We need political space for those who are not merely in love with Thaksin or consider him as evil personified. We need political space for people who oppose the draconian lese majeste law but who respect those who revere HM the King.
That shouldn’t be too complicated. But is it?
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