Between Nationalism and Neighbors: Understanding the Cambodia–Thailand Conflict

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 Between Nationalism and Neighbors: Understanding the Cambodia–Thailand Conflict

For two countries that share centuries of intertwined history, cultural roots, and religious heritage, Cambodia and Thailand’s modern relationship is paradoxically fraught with suspicion and periodic confrontation. Nowhere is this more visible than along their contested border—where ancient temples, colonial-era maps, and nationalist sentiment collide.

Although armed clashes have largely subsided since the 2013 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the Preah Vihear Temple, the underlying tensions remain unresolved. What continues to fuel this conflict? To answer that, one must look beyond the physical markers of the border and into the emotional, political, and historical forces that shape national identity.

The Nationalist Fuel: History as a Political Tool

At the heart of the Cambodia–Thailand dispute is nationalism, often cultivated for domestic political purposes.

Cambodia:

  • The loss of territory during the colonial era—especially land once ruled by the Khmer Empire—remains a deeply emotional wound in Cambodian national consciousness.

  • Preah Vihear is not just a religious monument—it’s a symbol of survival and historical legitimacy, especially after years of war and occupation.

  • The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), especially under Hun Sen, has often invoked the temple issue to rally patriotism and reinforce its image as the protector of national sovereignty.

Thailand:

  • Thai political factions—especially during times of domestic crisis—have used the Preah Vihear issue as a rallying cry for unity and national pride.

  • Conservative groups and military elites have pushed the idea that Thai territory was “unfairly taken” by colonial-era treaties and ICJ rulings.

  • Media and school textbooks have, at times, promoted a Thai-centric historical narrative that downplays the Khmer Empire's contributions or frames Cambodia as a historical junior.

In both countries, the past is not simply remembered—it is mobilized.

Media, Memory, and Misinformation

Modern media—especially during periods of heightened tension—can amplify nationalist narratives and distort public understanding.

  • During the 2008–2011 clashes near Preah Vihear, both Cambodian and Thai outlets portrayed their own militaries as defenders and the other as aggressors.

  • Social media further escalated rhetoric, with images, videos, and nationalistic slogans spreading quickly and fueling anger.

  • Fact-checking, cross-border dialogue, and academic nuance were often lost in the noise of patriotic fervor.

This media dynamic has entrenched mutual distrust, especially among younger generations.

Practical Challenges: Maps, Borders, and Bureaucracy

Beneath the nationalism lie real and unresolved technical issues.

  • Much of the Cambodia–Thailand border (over 800 km) is still not demarcated due to disagreements over which historical maps and documents to use.

  • Thailand often favors modern surveys, while Cambodia relies on French colonial maps—particularly the 1907 map used in the original ICJ ruling.

  • The Joint Border Committee (JBC), established to resolve these matters, has made slow progress due to political changes, mutual suspicion, and nationalist pressure.

Thus, the border dispute persists not only in emotion but in cartographic ambiguity.

ASEAN and the Regional Dilemma

In theory, ASEAN offers a platform for conflict resolution. But in practice, its non-interference principle and consensus-based model have limited its effectiveness.

  • During the 2008–2011 clashes, ASEAN attempted to mediate but could not compel binding resolutions.

  • Internal rivalries—particularly between pro-China and pro-Western blocs—make unified ASEAN action on border disputes difficult.

  • However, ASEAN’s track 2 diplomacy, people-to-people engagement, and cultural exchange initiatives offer quiet but meaningful avenues for de-escalation.

Cambodia and Thailand also participate in broader regional frameworks, but bilateral relations remain the most decisive factor.

Nationalism vs. Neighborhood: The Ongoing Tension

The Cambodia–Thailand conflict highlights a fundamental tension in Southeast Asia: How can nations uphold national pride while living peacefully with historical neighbors?

  • Nationalism, if framed around pride and culture, can inspire development and resilience.

  • But when weaponized—as it has been in the Preah Vihear dispute—it becomes a barrier to peace, distorting perceptions and hardening positions.

Both countries must recognize that shared heritage—like Preah Vihear, which reflects the artistry of the ancient Khmer Empire admired by both peoples—need not be zero-sum.

Toward a Sustainable Peace?

For lasting peace, Cambodia and Thailand must:

  1. Depoliticize history education and promote shared cultural narratives.

  2. Strengthen joint mechanisms like the JBC to resolve border demarcation based on law, not emotion.

  3. Encourage civil society exchanges to build mutual understanding and dismantle stereotypes.

  4. Reopen dialogue on joint heritage tourism, where Preah Vihear and other temples become symbols of cooperation, not competition.

Conclusion: Understanding Before Resolution

In the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute, the front lines are not only at remote temples or jungle outposts—they’re in history books, political rallies, and newsrooms. Understanding why the conflict persists means understanding the power of nationalism, the fragility of memory, and the difficulty of healing when history becomes a weapon.

For Cambodia and Thailand, peace depends not just on agreements, but on the courage to look at each other as neighbors, not rivals, and to remember that the borders dividing them were drawn long after the temples uniting them were built.

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