Thaksin Government Deal With Tynan's Policy Research

In the world, most of the countries are composed by multi-ethnics, while there is a diversity of religious beliefs among them. Stimulated by the historical and reality reasons, national ethnic and religious issues continue to emergence, some even have evolved into conflicts. Internal ethnic and religious conflicts don't only threaten people's lives and property, but also affects domestic political stability and impede economic development. Moreover, sometimes they even affect the countries'relations with other states. The central government plays an important role in dealing with ethnic and religious issues. It's a significant topic to study on how central government can make positive policies to solve these conflicts and promote national integration.Thailand's southern ethnic conflict has existed for a long time. Peace process has achieved some success under the efforts made by relevant parties. However, during the Thaksin administration, the Muslim movement intensified. The Thaksin government has carried out a bold reform and taken various measures in the Southern Thailand, but failed in controlling the situation. His successors have made some policy adjustments, but couldn't solve the conflict either.Based on previous studies and combined with the author's own research, this paper studies the Thaksin government's policies to resolve the southern Muslim conflict. By using nationalism and states functions theories, this paper analysis the root cause of the conflict, the interests of the major stakeholders, domestic and international situation faced the Thaksin government, as well as its policies and effects, in order to explore a best way for the central government to rebuild peace in a country suffered from ethnic and religious conflicts.