He moved to the United States, and studied political sciences at the College of Charleston, where he got a BA, and then got a master's from the University of Georgia.

He was also invited as a visiting professor at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C.[4][5] Anek began his political life as an advisor to Marut Bunnag, the then Speaker of the House of Representatives and he participated in the founding King Prajadhipok's Institute.

[7][8] In 2020, he was appointed Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation in the government of Prayut Chan-o-cha in the August Cabinet reshuffle.

He announced his vision that soon Thailand will be the fifth nation in Asia to be able to produce spacecraft and send it to orbit the Moon.

[9][10] Anek Laothamatas made his name in academic world with “Tale of Two Democracies”, which explores the divide in Thai society between the rural and urban sectors.