RELIGIOUS MOTIVATION IN POLITICAL STRUGGLES: THE CASE OF THAILAND'S PATANI CONFLICT

The authors examine the Patani conflict in Southern Thailand to illustrate how the 'jihadist' label can misinterpret local political struggles. They argue that while religion is a key motivating factor, it is intertwined with ethnic Malay identity and nationalistic goals of independence from the Thai state. The paper rejects the notion that the insurgency is driven by transnational Salafi-Jihadism or groups like ISIS, asserting instead that the conflict is driven by a 'nation-oriented' rationale rooted in local grievances and historical colonization.

• The authors argue that the 'jihadist' label is often a superficial brand used by analysts, governments, and extremist groups that obscures the local political dynamics of conflicts. Most Muslim militant groups fight for local political goals rather than a global caliphate.
• The Patani conflict is characterized as a 'nation-oriented' struggle focused on territory and ethnicity, stemming from the 1902 annexation of the Patani sultanate by the kingdom of Siam. The insurgency is driven by resentment against 'Siamese colonizers' and widespread discrimination against the Malay Muslim population.
• In the Patani region, religious and ethnic identities are virtually inseparable, with 'Malayness' and Islam merging historically. Consequently, the concept of jihad is interpreted locally as a religious obligation to secure the rights and independence of the Patani people specifically.
• The authors reject claims that the Patani insurgency is driven by Salafi-Jihadism or transnational groups like ISIS or Al Qaeda. They note that the backbone of the rebellion consists of traditionalists ('the old school') who explicitly reject Salafi teaching.
• While some local youths may occasionally adopt symbols of transnational jihadism (such as ISIS flags or Osama Bin Laden imagery), the authors describe this as a shallow, ephemeral fascination rather than an ideological alignment.
• The authors contend that the Thai government has historically denied the existence of ethnic or territorial conflicts in the region to protect the tourism industry, which contributes 8.6 per cent of direct GDP.

APA

Nilsen, M., & Hara, S. (n.d.). RELIGIOUS MOTIVATION IN POLITICAL STRUGGLES: THE CASE OF THAILAND'S PATANI CONFLICT. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/cf14704a-a11c-4df5-a0ac-c8f854398a3b/Religious Motivation in Political Struggles The Case of Thailands Patani Conflict.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Nilsen, Marte, and Shintaro Hara. RELIGIOUS MOTIVATION IN POLITICAL STRUGGLES: THE CASE OF THAILAND'S PATANI CONFLICT. Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/cf14704a-a11c-4df5-a0ac-c8f854398a3b/Religious Motivation in Political Struggles The Case of Thailands Patani Conflict.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Nilsen |first1=Marte |last2=Hara |first2=Shintaro |title=RELIGIOUS MOTIVATION IN POLITICAL STRUGGLES: THE CASE OF THAILAND'S PATANI CONFLICT |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/cf14704a-a11c-4df5-a0ac-c8f854398a3b/Religious Motivation in Political Struggles The Case of Thailands Patani Conflict.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{nilsenndreligious, author = {Nilsen, Marte and Hara, Shintaro}, title = {{RELIGIOUS MOTIVATION IN POLITICAL STRUGGLES: THE CASE OF THAILAND'S PATANI CONFLICT}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/cf14704a-a11c-4df5-a0ac-c8f854398a3b/Religious Motivation in Political Struggles The Case of Thailands Patani Conflict.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }