Law and the Development of Multicultural Areas in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces: A Legal, Social, and Peace Studies Analysis

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the role of law in the development of multicultural areas in Thailand’s southern border provinces through an integrated analytical framework encompassing legal studies, social analysis, and peace studies. The study focuses on the relationship between state law, the rule of law, human rights, and the context of religious and cultural diversity in the region. The findings indicate that the enforcement of security-oriented laws, which emphasize state-centered authority, although intended to maintain public order, has in practice resulted in restrictions on civil liberties and a decline in public trust toward the state. The article argues that sustainable development in multicultural areas requires a reorientation of the legal framework toward the principles of the rule of law, justice, and public participation, with respect for religious and cultural identities as fundamental components of human dignity. Furthermore, the law should be designed and implemented as an instrument for building positive peace by promoting structural justice, reducing inequality, and strengthening constructive relationships between the state and society in the southern border region. This analysis also leads to policy recommendations aimed at reforming legal frameworks to better align with the multicultural context of the area and to support sustainable development and peacebuilding.