On the Origins of Political Thought in Siam-Thailand:
An analytical and interpretive essay on the political ideas of the commoner-bourgeoisie of the Rattanakosin Kingdom during the transition from traditional Thai society to the modern era (On Bourgeoisie)
By Thanet Aphornsuvan
Throughout the long history of the Siamese-Thai kingdom and state, the ruling elite succeeded in constructing a remarkably complete ideology of governance that served their own interests — one that eventually became a form of hegemony met with virtually no resistance or opposition. This allowed the regime to maintain an exceptionally high degree of unity, order, and stability compared to other kingdoms and states.
Yet this very success gave rise to a condition in which the people were unable to think and act independently or exercise genuine critical judgment of their own — much like a child who never grows up.
As a result, bureaucratic and administrative systems fell largely into a state of inefficiency and incompetence. Remedies have typically come in the form of appointing new leaders with greater authority and somewhat improved methods — but only with short-term effect, as if endlessly wandering a labyrinth with no way out.
— Excerpt from the Preface by Thanet Aphornsuvan
// Table of Contents //
Preface to the First Edition
Preface to the Second Edition
1. The Tradition of Thai Political Thought
2. Virtue in Western Political Thought
3. The Concept of Virtue in Thai Political Thought: From Ancient to Modern Times
4. "Free Trade" and Sir John Bowring
5. "Absolutist Oriental Studies" and Dr. Dan Beach Bradley
6. "Truth" in Art: Anna and the King of Siam
7. The Siamese Elite's Ideas on Slavery and Freedom
8. Why "Rights" Must Be "Absent"
9. Early Economic Thought on "Capital" and "Labor"
10. Thianwan: A Pioneer Journalist of Freedom
11. The Origins of the Concept of Justice
12. Water Hyacinths and Human Rights
13. The Birth of the Constitutional Demand
14. "Humanhood": The Political Philosophy of Human Dignity by Kulap Saipradit
15. Order and Security: The Political and Social Thought of Pridi Phanomyong
16. The Civic Virtue of Puey Ungphakorn
17. The Patronage System and the Political Thought of Saneh Chamarik
18. Power and Nation in the Political Thought of Benedict Anderson
19. The Phenomenon of the Siamese Intellectual: Sulak Sivaraksa
Details
▪️Format : Paperback
▪️Piyavit Tepumnuaysakul : Editor
▪️Designed by ● SM STUDIO | Chirawat Rotaim ●
▪️Published : October 2020
▪️Length : 504 pages
▪️ISBN : 978-616-562-014-7
▪️Dimensions (in) : 5.25 x 8.25
▪️Price : 450 THB
