Thirty-two focus groups across Thailand's six regions explored how participants interpret constitutional design through exclusion, procedural unfairness and recognition of dissent. Younger and ethnic-minority participants framed participation and recognition as justice claims.
Key findings
- Participants described procedural unfairness, moral delegitimation of dissent and civic exclusion. Younger and minority participants emphasized fairness, recognition and meaningful participation, interpreted as a citizen-authored vision of constitutionalism.
Why this matters globally
Legitimacy, procedure and voice are contested in hybrid regimes worldwide. The study connects constitutional theory to lived experience rather than formal text alone.
Thai researcher contribution
Srinakharinwirot and Chulalongkorn University scholars designed a nationwide qualitative study that brings Thai constitutional experience into global social-justice debate.
Limitations to consider
Recruitment and group composition are absent from the abstract. Focus groups permit dominant-voice and silence effects, findings are time-specific and theory-mediated, and cannot estimate prevalence or represent all citizens.