There is no denying that youths in Thailand are demanding a new type of governing system, since the military took over the nation for so long. The recent election in this nation reminded everyone the significance of democracy, and how youths should be unifies, in order to generate much greater noises. Is Thailand an authoritarian nation today? How is the political uncertainties parallel the political situation in Myanmar? Are the nations in Southeast Asia undergoing some sorts of political transformation?

Oren Samet is a PhD candidate in the Political Science Department at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Dissertation Fellow with the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. His research focuses on opposition parties, civil society, and authoritarianism, particularly in Southeast Asia. He was previously based in Bangkok, Thailand, where he worked for human rights NGOs and wrote political analysis for numerous outlets. His writing has appeared in Foreign Policy, Slate, The Diplomat, and World Politics Review, among other publications.