Borderlines and Battlefields: How Historical Narratives Fuel theThailand-Cambodia Border Conflict

The 2025 conflict between Thailand and Cambodia over their shared border, particularly near the Preah Vihear temple, demonstrates how historical and cultural narratives perpetuate disputes despite legal rulings and mediation efforts. The conflict stems from colonial-era maps and treaties, with both nations holding deeply ingrained historical narratives: Thailand’s view of a natural “geobody” and Cambodia’s claim to civilizational guardianship. These narratives, amplified by political opportunism and social media, have made legal and institutional solutions, like those from the ICJ and ASEAN, insufficient. 

BIPSS Research Associate Alice Daversin urged in this commentary that a sustainable resolution requires moving beyond temporary ceasefires to address the core issues through joint education, transparent border management, and cross-border economic cooperation to transform the contested area into a zone of shared prosperity.