Diplomacy under Siege: Thailand's Political Crisis and the Impact on Foreign Policy

The current crisis in Thailand has not only had an enormous impact on domestic politics but also on the conduct of the country's foreign affairs. This article argues that foreign policy is inextricably linked to domestic politics and is therefore a casualty of the ongoing battle between the two main opposing political factions — one that supports former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the other that seeks to extirpate his legacy and influence. The article investigates the close connection between domestic politics and foreign affairs through three essential aspects: the political turmoil and its spillover effects on foreign policy; the competition between new and old regimes to legitimize their foreign policies; and the battle between state and non-state actors. At these levels, political actors have schemed to undermine their opponents, exploiting foreign policy issues as political weapons regardless of the effects their actions might have on Thailand's neighbours. The contentious case of the Thai-Cambodian dispute over the Preah Vihear Temple exemplifies how foreign policy has been held hostage to the relentless power struggle between the two leading political contenders.