The critical discourse analysis of the political movement of the student and the people (2020)

Abstract

The political protests of 2020 are considered a phenomenon that must be recorded in Thailand’s history. They presented the root causes of the problems through straightforward political language and profoundly impacted Thai society. As the holders of sovereignty, it made the people reflect on and scrutinize the various problems occurring in Thailand. The critical discourse analysis of the political movement of the student and the people (2020) aims to explore the relationship between linguistic and social dimensions. This study investigates political discourse for counter-hegemony through Norman Fairclough’s three-dimensional analytical framework: 1) Text, 2) Discursive Practice, and 3) Socio-cultural Practice. The analysis is conducted on the text of 10 core leaders who participated in various activities such as speeches, interviews with the media, television appearances, participation in academic seminars, and participation in clarifications at meetings of the House of Representatives. The analysis revealed ten alternative discourses: 1) The discourse on reforming the monarchy, 2) The discourse on demanding rights and liberty, 3) The discourse on amending the constitution, 4) The discourse on the exercise of state power, 5) The political system discourse, 6) The discourse on advocating democracy, 7) The discourse of Justice and injustice, 8) The discourse of threats, 9) The discourse of fighting for ideology, and 10) The discourse of social inequality. These discourses reveal embedded political ideologies within the texts from the protesters, namely “liberal democracy” and the groups holding state power, and those opposing protest movements, namely “monarchist conservatism” and “authoritarian conservatism.” The study provides an understanding of the political landscape since the post-coup era of 2014, which is one of the causes of the problem’s formation. Coupled with social, political, and economic issues, it has led to flash mob protests spreading nationwide. Political discourse is a form of ideological representation through language and is a crucial tool in the struggle. However, Fairclough’s framework of Critical Discourse Analysis can be developed as a conceptual framework for studying various social and political phenomena. This allows understanding dominant ideas or discourses to foster awareness and reduce the risk of being dominated. Moreover, it involves searching for alternative discourses for groups under injustice or inequality to fight for hegemony and lead to social change.