#Civiceducation

A recent analysis argues that public schools remain essential for democracy and the economy. (The authors warn that policy shifts could harm civic life and widen inequality.) (The Conversation)

The study links historical public investment to broad social gains. (The authors cite Horace Mann and the GI Bill as pivotal examples.) (The Conversation)

The authors say that public education builds a skilled workforce. (They say this workforce fueled U.S. innovation and prosperity over 150 years.) (The Conversation)

A groundbreaking study involving nearly 1.8 million people across 183 countries links harsh social conditions to the emergence of “dark” personality traits. For Thailand, the findings illuminate how social conditions influence trust, ethics, and community harmony rooted in Buddhist values of compassion and right conduct.

Researchers describe the Dark Factor of Personality as a general tendency toward selfishness, callousness, manipulation, and moral disengagement. This profile predicts dishonest and harmful behavior across situations, contrasting with the cooperative mindset central to Thai culture. A senior psychologist at a leading Bangkok university notes that such research helps explain how corruption and inequality erode traditional values. When exploitation becomes normalized, individuals may pursue self-serving strategies that conflict with Buddhist principles of care for others.

A recent Lumina Foundation-Gallup survey shows a notable rebound in public confidence in higher education in the United States—the first uptick in a decade. While focused on the U.S., the findings offer timely lessons for Thai readers about credibility, relevance, and public engagement in universities. The study reports that 42 percent of Americans now express a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in colleges, up six points from the previous year and the highest level since 2015. The shift follows years of debate over debt, cost, and campus culture.

Democracy is often seen as a Western concept, but Thai thinkers, monks, and educators argue that its core ideas appear within Buddhist teachings and monastic life. Exploring “ประชาธิปไตยในพุทธศาสนา” (democracy in Buddhism) helps connect faith and governance, allowing Thai society to interpret civic values through familiar spiritual roots.

The idea is not new in Thai discourse. In debates over governance, civil rights, and social harmony, Buddhist scholars and university educators have long suggested that Buddhism offers a model of democracy grounded in shared deliberation, ethical consensus, and the dignity of every person. This view resonates in a society where Buddhism and democracy are deeply woven together, even as their interaction continues to spark political and social debate.

As debates around political extremism intensify, new research and public conversations remind Thai readers of the enduring dangers of authoritarian, ultranationalist ideologies. Scholars and educators highlight how fascist movements rose from crisis, manipulated fear and identity, and caused immense human suffering. The message is clear: understanding these histories helps policymakers and communities safeguard democratic norms today.

Fascism did not appear by accident. Across 20th-century Europe, economic hardship, social upheaval, and weak institutions created openings for anti-democratic ideologies to take hold. Experts emphasize that these regimes exploited discontent and calls for strong leadership to push through violent, exclusionary agendas—ultimately fueling wars and persecution. Recent analyses emphasize that ignoring these patterns risks repetition in new forms. Research summarized in contemporary commentaries argues for vigilance against complacency during national crises.

As conversations around political extremism resurge globally, new research and public debates are highlighting the enduring lessons drawn from the history of fascism—reminding both policymakers and the public in Thailand and beyond of the dangers posed by authoritarian and ultranationalist ideologies. Scholars and civic commentators are intensifying calls for Thai society to critically engage with the multifaceted origins, rise, and traumatic impacts of fascist movements in the 20th century, warning that disregarding these histories risks allowing similar patterns to re-emerge in different forms.