The roles and perceptions of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs through governmental politics in the Preah Vihear Temple dispute

Thailand's foreign policies regarding the Preah Vihear Temple dispute often diverge from the cooperative national role conceptions (NRCs) of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), particularly when governmental politics are highly confrontational and the MFA's influence is limited. This study, employing role theory and a governmental politics approach, reveals that while the MFA's organizational structure tends to favor cooperation, external material and ideational factors, public opinion, and internal political dynamics can override its diplomatic stance. The research highlights the interplay between foreign-policymaking actors as a key determinant of policy outcomes, demonstrating that Thailand's foreign policies do not consistently reflect the MFA's NRCs when confrontational politics prevail.

Duangratana, O. The roles and perceptions of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs through governmental politics in the Preah Vihear Temple dispute. https://doi.org/10.58837/chula.the.2019.444