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Mark S. Cogan

Mark S. Cogan

The Diplomat

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Is Thailand’s PM More Concerned About Sound Cannabis Policy or Political Optics?

Amid a rise in smuggling, Anutin Charnvirakul has recently come out against the policy he once championed: the decriminalization of marijuana.

previous day 3

The Diplomat

Mark S. Cogan

Thailand Needs to Soak Its Own Rich, Not Just Wealthy Tourists

While the government focuses on burnishing its appeal to well-heeled tourists, massive holdings of Thai elite wealth remain effectively untaxed.

10.07.2026 10

The Diplomat

Mark S. Cogan

Whither an International Response to China’s Ethnic Unity Law?

The conventional tools previously used to penalize China for its rights abuses – sanctions, public pressure, condemnation, institutional mechanisms,...

07.07.2026 10

The Diplomat

Mark S. Cogan

Thailand’s Election Commission Is Next of Kin to Chaos

The election body that presided over Sunday's shambolic election has a long track record of systemic dysfunction and support for military rule.

13.02.2026 100

The Diplomat

Mark S. Cogan

Pheu Thai is Banking on Corruption to Remedy Thailand’s Informal Economy

After the collapse of the party's "digital wallet" stimulus plan, voters should not be fooled by its recently announced 1 million-baht election...

04.02.2026 10

The Diplomat

Mark S. Cogan

The Political Neglect of Thailand’s Deep South Cannot Continue

A series of petrol station bombings on January 11 is a reminder of the conflict that continues to fester in the country's southern provinces.

20.01.2026 30

The Diplomat

Mark S. Cogan

Thai Royal Defamation Case Against American Academic Could Have Dire Consequences

The case against Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University in northern Thailand, has ominous implications for foreign researchers in Thailand.

28.04.2025 20

The Diplomat

Mark S. Cogan