Ken Mathis Lohatepanont
@kenlmathis.bsky.social
Political Science Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Michigan. Thailand/Southeast Asia analyst. Studying parties in emerging democracies and the politics of development. kenlmathis.com
My voter's guide for the Thailand 2026 general election is out now on Latitude Ten!
It contains an explainer of how this election works and the platforms offered by the major contenders.
Check it out here: latitudeten.com?p=1572
It contains an explainer of how this election works and the platforms offered by the major contenders.
Check it out here: latitudeten.com?p=1572
January 19, 2026 at 6:56 AM
My voter's guide for the Thailand 2026 general election is out now on Latitude Ten!
It contains an explainer of how this election works and the platforms offered by the major contenders.
Check it out here: latitudeten.com?p=1572
It contains an explainer of how this election works and the platforms offered by the major contenders.
Check it out here: latitudeten.com?p=1572
Overall, Thai politics after the grand compromise has made it clear: attitudes towards Thaksin remains one of the clearest divides amongst the electorate, and voter-level attitudes have not yet caught up with elite-level attitudes.
March 28, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Overall, Thai politics after the grand compromise has made it clear: attitudes towards Thaksin remains one of the clearest divides amongst the electorate, and voter-level attitudes have not yet caught up with elite-level attitudes.
We also break down voter approval of individual politicians by party, on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being least favorable and 5 being most favorable).
March 28, 2025 at 2:49 AM
We also break down voter approval of individual politicians by party, on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being least favorable and 5 being most favorable).
This piece draws on original survey data (conducted with
@a2hicken.bsky.social and Chitchaya Chimtanoo), including a mapping of how voters in our sample shifted in their party choices between the 2019 and 2023 general elections.
@a2hicken.bsky.social and Chitchaya Chimtanoo), including a mapping of how voters in our sample shifted in their party choices between the 2019 and 2023 general elections.
March 28, 2025 at 2:49 AM
This piece draws on original survey data (conducted with
@a2hicken.bsky.social and Chitchaya Chimtanoo), including a mapping of how voters in our sample shifted in their party choices between the 2019 and 2023 general elections.
@a2hicken.bsky.social and Chitchaya Chimtanoo), including a mapping of how voters in our sample shifted in their party choices between the 2019 and 2023 general elections.
Two of the above voter groups, the populist reformists and traditional conservatives, are most likely to seek a new partisan home at the next election.
March 28, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Two of the above voter groups, the populist reformists and traditional conservatives, are most likely to seek a new partisan home at the next election.
We argue that Thai voters can be divided into four categories: reconciliatory conservatives, populist reformists, traditional conservatives, and progressive reformists. These groups will respond differently to the grand compromise.
March 28, 2025 at 2:49 AM
We argue that Thai voters can be divided into four categories: reconciliatory conservatives, populist reformists, traditional conservatives, and progressive reformists. These groups will respond differently to the grand compromise.
Thank you to @madridlitmag.bsky.social for featuring three of my poetry translations in their new issue, which is out today! Includes a translation of a poem from the Khlong Lokanit.
February 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Thank you to @madridlitmag.bsky.social for featuring three of my poetry translations in their new issue, which is out today! Includes a translation of a poem from the Khlong Lokanit.
I'll write up some analysis of the full results for the local elections soon, but let me highlight one province to watch: in Lampoon, the People's Party candidate for PAO chair is leading Pheu Thai. If he wins, he'll be their first candidate ever to win a PAO.
February 1, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I'll write up some analysis of the full results for the local elections soon, but let me highlight one province to watch: in Lampoon, the People's Party candidate for PAO chair is leading Pheu Thai. If he wins, he'll be their first candidate ever to win a PAO.
There has been a hefty increase for the UTN to get it to first place — a sign of electoral momentum? — but both UTN and PT's numbers pale compared to what Move Forward used to get prior to dissolution. (Top number: total allocation, lower number: taxpayer-donated portion)
January 27, 2025 at 11:32 PM
There has been a hefty increase for the UTN to get it to first place — a sign of electoral momentum? — but both UTN and PT's numbers pale compared to what Move Forward used to get prior to dissolution. (Top number: total allocation, lower number: taxpayer-donated portion)
Worth noting that this figure isn't referring to the usual taxpayer donations (Thai citizens can donate up to 500 baht of their income taxes to a party of their choice). The total allocation from the fund is made up of taxpayer donations + an assortment of other funds.
January 27, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Worth noting that this figure isn't referring to the usual taxpayer donations (Thai citizens can donate up to 500 baht of their income taxes to a party of their choice). The total allocation from the fund is made up of taxpayer donations + an assortment of other funds.
I have to say, this is a weird point from TIME. I hope no one tries to measure Thailand's success at soft power promotion based on how much they move up the Global Soft Power Index.
January 6, 2025 at 7:31 AM
I have to say, this is a weird point from TIME. I hope no one tries to measure Thailand's success at soft power promotion based on how much they move up the Global Soft Power Index.
I guess The Standard's readers agreed.
December 30, 2024 at 10:05 AM
I guess The Standard's readers agreed.
Of all the work I did this year...apparently taking that picture of Moo Deng in Ann Arbor was the most important.
December 30, 2024 at 10:05 AM
Of all the work I did this year...apparently taking that picture of Moo Deng in Ann Arbor was the most important.
Another big local victory for Pheu Thai, this time in the PAO chairman race in Ubon Ratchathani. The People's Party candidate came in a rather distant third place. (Graphic: TNAMCOT)
December 23, 2024 at 1:19 AM
Another big local victory for Pheu Thai, this time in the PAO chairman race in Ubon Ratchathani. The People's Party candidate came in a rather distant third place. (Graphic: TNAMCOT)
This conference room view at Boston University is hard to beat.
December 9, 2024 at 7:58 PM
This conference room view at Boston University is hard to beat.
At King Bhumibol Adulyadej Square in Cambridge, MA. Today is December 5th, the late king's birthday.
December 5, 2024 at 9:26 PM
At King Bhumibol Adulyadej Square in Cambridge, MA. Today is December 5th, the late king's birthday.
New innovation: this year I hosted a friendsgiving with a Thai twist: "Loy Kra-Thanks" — a fusion of Thanksgiving and Loy Krathong! And a friend made Larb Turkey 🦃
November 30, 2024 at 3:28 PM
New innovation: this year I hosted a friendsgiving with a Thai twist: "Loy Kra-Thanks" — a fusion of Thanksgiving and Loy Krathong! And a friend made Larb Turkey 🦃
It's finally looking like winter in Ann Arbor!
November 29, 2024 at 7:06 PM
It's finally looking like winter in Ann Arbor!
Not much has gone right for the PP since its formation earlier this year after the dissolution of MFP — its leader has slipped in opinion polling, and it's been met with defeat after defeat in local races.
November 25, 2024 at 3:02 AM
Not much has gone right for the PP since its formation earlier this year after the dissolution of MFP — its leader has slipped in opinion polling, and it's been met with defeat after defeat in local races.
Having eaten here twice, I can confidently say that Chalong in NYC has possibly the best Thai food I've ever had in the US. Tastes just like it would in Thailand.
November 20, 2024 at 9:30 PM
Having eaten here twice, I can confidently say that Chalong in NYC has possibly the best Thai food I've ever had in the US. Tastes just like it would in Thailand.
At Times Square in NYC, Thailand's long term visa was being constantly advertised. I wonder how much the government is paying for this.
November 18, 2024 at 2:10 PM
At Times Square in NYC, Thailand's long term visa was being constantly advertised. I wonder how much the government is paying for this.
Yeah, certainly not impossible. If there is anything we've learned over the past two years in Thailand, it's that no bridge is too burnt to be rebuilt!
November 15, 2024 at 11:47 PM
Yeah, certainly not impossible. If there is anything we've learned over the past two years in Thailand, it's that no bridge is too burnt to be rebuilt!
I had the opportunity to discuss urban-rural dynamics at the Thai 2023 election on Suthichai Yoon's show with Dr. Napon Jatusripitak and Dr. Anek Laothamatas (recently Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation).
January 7, 2024 at 7:10 AM
I had the opportunity to discuss urban-rural dynamics at the Thai 2023 election on Suthichai Yoon's show with Dr. Napon Jatusripitak and Dr. Anek Laothamatas (recently Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation).
In an article published in Contemporary Southeast Asia, Prof. Allen Hicken, Dr. Napon Jatusripitak and I take a new look at Dr. Anek Laothamathas' famous theory of Thailand being "a tale of two democracies." Read the full piece in the 2023 Election Roundtable: bookshop.iseas.edu.sg/publication/...
January 4, 2024 at 10:26 AM
In an article published in Contemporary Southeast Asia, Prof. Allen Hicken, Dr. Napon Jatusripitak and I take a new look at Dr. Anek Laothamathas' famous theory of Thailand being "a tale of two democracies." Read the full piece in the 2023 Election Roundtable: bookshop.iseas.edu.sg/publication/...