How Thailand’s political dynasty shaped the country for the last 25 years

Thailand’s most powerful political dynasty, the Shinawatra clan, has ruled Thailand for decades, commanding a web of affiliates across the country. But its political strength is now being challenged, with the removal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office by the country’s Constitutional Court on August 29, 2025. The family’s political fortune began in the late 1990s, when Thaksin Shinawatra entered politics and was elected prime minister in 2001. Capitalising on his huge popularity among the country’s poorer communities, he managed to assert himself as a central figure in the Thai political landscape.