Supporting Political Stability
"Quo Vadis Thailand: Steering Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy in Times of Uncertainty"

Dr. Axel Neubert introducing the ceremony

HSF

The conference featured expert discussions on Thailand’s future, addressing the challenges and opportunities in Thai domestic politics and foreign policy. Distinguished speakers and experts – among them former Prime Minister H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva – to discuss Thailand’s political future and foreign policy challenges, the two areas to which H.E. Kasit has devoted his decades-long political and diplomatic career.

Commenced with welcoming remarks from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pokpong Srisanit, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University, CPG Director Henning Glaser, and Dr. Axel Neubert, Director of Hanns Seidel Foundation Thailand, the highlight of the conference was the keynote address by H.E. Kasit who shared insights drawn from his decades-long career in diplomacy. He reflected on his extensive experience as a diplomat – including a “thank you” to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for support during a post as ambassador to Indonesia – while offering a candid assessment of Thailand's position within the rapidly evolving global order. Underscoring the high regard in which H.E. Kasit is held for his decades-long contributions to diplomacy and foreign policy, representatives from not less than 40 embassies registered for the event.

Before the keynote speech, Henning Glaser expressed in his introductory remarks to the conference gratitude to H.E. Kasit for his outstanding support and long-standing cooperation with CPG, emphasizing his significant contributions to CPG’s work over many years through his vast knowledge and experience that he continues to generously share, always striving for pragmatic solutions while staying true to his principles. Following the remarks in honour of H.E. Kasit, Henning Glaser addressed the core issues and challenges in Thailand's domestic politics and foreign policy, emphasizing the pressures the country faces amidst global megatrends and crises, thereby framing the conference program and setting the stage for the panel discussions of the conference.

The first focused on pressing political issues, challenges, and the potential paths forward in Thai domestic politics. This session brought together H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva, former Prime Minister of Thailand; Dr. Panitan Wattanayagorn, Member of the Thai Parliament’s Research and Development Committee; and Dr. Prinya Thaewanarumitkul from the Faculty of Law of Thammasat University. It was moderated by Pravit Rojanaphruk, the veteran journalist at Khaosod English.

The second-panel discussion examined Thailand's foreign policy, focusing on a balancing act exercising agency and managing structural constraints in a rapidly shifting geopolitical environment. The speaker lineup of this session included Prof. Dr. Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University; Marc Saxer, the Managing Director for Regional Cooperation in Asia at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation; Kavi Chongkittavorn, veteran journalist and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Security and International Studies, and Dr. Dulyapak Preecharush from Thammasat University.

Apichai Sunchindah, a policy adviser and development specialist, moderated the discussion.

A special part of the event included the presentation of the CPG Award to Dr. Gabriel Facal, Deputy Director of the Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia (Irasec (Institut de recherche sur l'Asie du Sud-Est contemporaine), in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the fruitful cooperation between the two organizations.

The organizers extend their gratitude to Assoc. Prof. Dr Pokpong Srisanit, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University, all panellists, moderators, and participants for coming together to celebrate H.E. Kasit and for their valuable contributions in making the event a successful platform for exploring strategic directions in Thailand’s domestic and foreign policies during times of uncertainty.

Kasit Piromya, CPG Senior Research Fellow and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand

HSF

Special thanks go to three other CPG Fellows and AGF Board Members in attendance: Ambassador Dr Warawit Kanithasen (ret.), Ambassador Tomwit Jarnson (ret.), and Pol. Lt. Gen. Suthin Khiewratana, the former Commander of the Thai Border Patrol Police.

H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva, former Prime Minister of Thailand, gave an interview discussing the current challenges in Thailand’s domestic politics.

The interview was conducted at CPG’s conference “Quo Vadis Thailand: Steering Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy in Times of Uncertainty”, hosted on November 7, 2024, at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel, Bangkok, in honour of H.E. Kasit Piromya, CPG Senior Research Fellow and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, on the occasion of his upcoming 80th birthday.

The event was jointly organized in collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Foundation Thailand and the Asian Governance Foundation (AGF)

For more details about the conference: Quo Vadis Thailand: Steering Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy in Times of Uncertainty