Economist Podcasts Generals’ election: Thai politics
May 9, 2019
Miranda Johnson, a Southeast Asia correspondent, dissects Thailand's recent tumultuous election, revealing how military influence still looms large despite calls for democracy. Anton LaGuardia, a digital editor, sheds light on Russia's escalating involvement in Syria, comparing it to historical U.S. interventions and the shifting power dynamics in the Middle East. They also touch on the unique literary culture of Guinea-Bissau, where soldier-poets express the complexities of military life and the struggle for societal change.
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Future Forward Party's Rise
- Future Forward, a new party popular with young voters, is a significant force.
- They are progressive, anti-establishment, and advocate for cutting the military budget.
Thailand's Democratic Decline
- The manipulated election is a setback for Thailand's democracy.
- The country's democratic backsliding is concerning given regional instability.
Russia's Middle East Resurgence
- Russia's 2015 intervention in Syria bolstered its Middle Eastern influence.
- They succeeded where the US failed in Iraq and now hold sway in Syria's future.