The Politics of Thai Buddhism under the NCPO Junta

The Politics of Thai Buddhism under the NCPO Junta

Author: Katewadee Kulabkaew

Publisher: ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute

Published: 2019-04-23

Total Pages: 28

ISBN-13: 9814843733

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The past two decades have been a time of turmoil in Thailand’s religious affairs. Disputes, debates and controversies concerning the administration of Buddhism, Thailand’s national religion by tradition, have erupted more and more frequently. This chronic and unresolvable conflict originates from Thai Buddhists’ inability to achieve a broad consensus on religious reform. Under the governance of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) junta that came to power in 2014, the fierce struggle concerning Buddhist reform seemed to subside. Upholding and protecting Buddhism might be a duty of traditional Thai rulers who desire for a source of political legitimacy, but the NCPO’s decisive actions concerning Buddhist institutional reform were not merely reflected respect for this tradition, but were closely intertwined with the dynamic of contending forces in Thailand’s long-troubled religious politics. Conflicts between the influential religious nationalists and the Thai Sangha convinced the military government of the need to act, for the sake of national security and political stability.


A Plastic Nation

A Plastic Nation

Author: Pavin Chachavalpongpun

Publisher: Rlpg/Galleys

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 210

ISBN-13:

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A Plastic Nation examines the role of Thai nationhood in domestic and international politics. Although in fact ill-defined, Thainess, or khwampenthai, has been consistently used by Thai leaders to legitimize their power and defend their economic interests. Not only has the assertion of Thainess been deeply rooted in the private interests of those in power, it has been deployed as part of nationalist sentiment to guard against any international norms, often considered as threats to the leaders' own interests. This book is intended for students and professors in the field of Thai nationhood and nationalism, contemporary Thai-Burmese relations, and policy practitioners in the government and military.


Buddhism and Politics in Thailand

Buddhism and Politics in Thailand

Author: Somboon Suksamran

Publisher: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies

Published: 1982

Total Pages: 191

ISBN-13: 9971902435

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This book studies the interaction of the Sangha (the community of monks) with politics and socio-political change in Thailand. Although the interaction of Buddhism and politics is recognized, it is seldom acknowledged and frequently denied. This paradox derives from two deeply rooted notions: first, that politics is "the dirtiest business" second, that only "pure" Buddhism and a "sound" Sangha can ensure the moral welfare of the nation, and their preservation in unadulterated form is critical for the survival of national unity.


Buddhism and Comparative Constitutional Law

Buddhism and Comparative Constitutional Law

Author: Tom Ginsburg

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2022-12

Total Pages: 405

ISBN-13: 1009286048

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Filling a gap in the fields of comparative law, religious studies, and political science, this is the first comprehensive account of Buddhism's complex entanglement with constitutional law, written by experts from across Asia and beyond.


Democratic Consolidation and Constitutional Endurance in Asia and Africa

Democratic Consolidation and Constitutional Endurance in Asia and Africa

Author: Tom Gerald Daly

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2024-01-23

Total Pages: 401

ISBN-13: 0192899368

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What factors drive constitutional change and sustain positive transformation? How are democratic values recognised, restored, and preserved through constitutional change? Democratic Consolidation and Constitutional Endurance in Asia and Africa is a well-articulated response to the growing scholarly conversation on democratic backsliding and resilience. Bringing together leading and emerging voices in constitutional law, this groundbreaking new collection considers recent democratising events in Ethiopia, The Gambia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Across seven thematic chapters and seven case studies, the volume provides analytical insight into central topics arising from these events, including the role of political parties which depart from 'Western' frameworks; the often-marginalised place of courts; the centrality of civil-military relations; the explanatory power of constitutional culture; and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Offering a decolonising approach to constitutional law and democratisation studies, this book will be of keen interest to scholars, practitioners, and policymakers alike. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the relationship between democratic decay and institutional endurance, and how such a relationship plays out in conditions of ongoing constitutional development.


Nonkilling Global Political Science

Nonkilling Global Political Science

Author: Glenn D. Paige

Publisher: Center for Global Nonkilling

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 189

ISBN-13: 0982298307

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This book is offered for consideration and critical reflection primarily by political science scholars throughout the world from beginning students to professors emeriti. Neither age nor erudition seems to make much difference in the prevailing assumption that killing is an inescapable part of the human condition that must be accepted in political theory and practice. It is hoped that readers will join in questioning this assumption and will contribute further stepping stones of thought and action toward a nonkilling global future.


Truth on Trial in Thailand

Truth on Trial in Thailand

Author: David Streckfuss

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2010-09-13

Total Pages: 507

ISBN-13: 1136942033

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This book explores the basics of the defamation law as it applies to private-sphere defamation and looks at the peculiar permutations created by the use of public-sphere defamation laws in Thailand, particularly in terms of creating and protecting a nationalist identity.


Civil-Military Relations in Southeast Asia

Civil-Military Relations in Southeast Asia

Author: Aurel Croissant

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2018-08-30

Total Pages: 109

ISBN-13: 110856898X

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Civil-Military Relations in Southeast Asia reviews the historical origins, contemporary patterns, and emerging changes in civil–military relations in Southeast Asia from colonial times until today. It analyzes what types of military organizations emerged in the late colonial period and the impact of colonial legacies and the Japanese occupation in World War II on the formation of national armies and their role in processes of achieving independence. It analyzes the long term trajectories and recent changes of professional, revolutionary, praetorian and neo-patrimonial civil-military relations in the region. Finally, it analyzes military roles in state- and nation-building; political domination; revolutions and regime transitions; and military entrepreneurship.