Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the Future Forward Party (FFP) -- Athit Perawongmetha/Reauthers

Despite efforts to purge his influence, Thai politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has emerged as the major opponent of the military in Thailand: “Thanathorn is young, rich, handsome, well-spoken, a skilled debater and absolutely clear in his pro-democratic political convictions. It appears Thailand’s conservative forces are unwilling to let such a threat go unchecked,” co-wrote Allen Hicken in a Washington Post Monkey Cage Analysis.

University of Michigan Professor of Political Science Allen Hicken studies political institutions and political economy in developing countries. His primary focus has been on political parties and party systems in developing democracies and their role in policy making. His regional specialty is Southeast Asia where he has worked in Thailand, the Philippines, and Cambodia.