Thailand referendum 2016 - Useful academic resources

Thailand has approved a new constitution. In a referendum citizens voted in favour of the amendments presented by the military.

A concise useful briefing to the referendum is provided on the Guardian website
IFES also has some basic background 

Official information is on the Thailand Electoral Authority website. Although at present English is limited.
Analysis of the content of the new constitution is on the Global Legal Monitor site of the Library of Congress


Anfrel (Asian Network for Free Elections) has a copy in English of the voting procedure booklet for citizens.
It also has a country profile with links to relevant legislation and electoral resources for Thailand.

News coverage
The Nation has news stories in English
Bangkok Post

Background information on human rights in the region
Try Amnesty International.

Freedom House reports

Human Rights Watch

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung - Thailand Office conducts work in Thailand its website has discussion on the state of rights

Zimbabwe referendum- good places for information.

Zimbabwe approves new constitution
Good places for information include


The BBC website has the results. and some news stories.
Zimbabwe electoral commission has somem information on electoral reform and electoral law
The Constitution Select Committee has the text of the draft constitution.  plus information on reform.
This includes a  includes a timeline of events leading up to the referendum.

All Africa has some news reports from African newspapers.
Zimbabwe Referendum Watch
from Sokwanele' monitored the conduct of the election. The website includes reports of abuses of rights.
It also has  a useful colection of links to constitution blogs supporting  both the the yes and no viewpoints.

Election observers included the SADC Election Observation Mission to the Republic of Zimbabwe whose statement on the conduct of the vote can be read on their website
and the Election Resource centre Zimbabwe- read their accounts on their Twitter channel. Their interim report can be read on the Zimbabwean website.

Egypt referendum - what's new what does it mean?

Recently votes went to the polls concerning changes to the Egyptian constitution. What are they what do they mean? here are some places to find out more.

There is a good C-Span video with Steven Cook, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. The 26 min programme  covers  Egypt’s protests, the referendum vote, and what’s next for Egyptian President Morsi
Al -Jazeera has some discussion, including an interview with individuals involved in re-writing the consitution.

The Egyptian Government website has an English language translation.
The Middle East Constitutional Forum website created by the Right to non violence (  an international NGO, established in Lebanon and in the United States) also has comment.
Discussion of the state of democracy in Egypt can be found on major human rights websites including.
Amnesty International.
Human Rights watch
International Crisis Group.
National Council for Human Rights - Egyptian based organisation giving an onn the ground viewpoint.
Major research bodies with papers and reports online include: Council on Foreign Affairs,
Brookings Institution.
NDI Egypt.
merip - Middle East Innovation and research project