The Great Men of the Moral Community - Thannapat Jarernpanit

The Great Men of the Moral Community
By Thannapat Jarernpanit

Foreword by Yos Santasombat and Tyrell Haberkorn

Where did the fractures in Thai politics truly begin? Why the divide between "Yellow" and "Red"? Why is the "Good Person" elevated above the "System"? And must one choose between "Royal Loyalty" and "Human Dignity"?

The Great Men of the Moral Community offers a profound investigation into the historical and ideological roots of Thailand’s political crises. From the inception of conflicts that led to state violence and the judicial harassment of activists to the deep-seated animosity between the Yellow and Red Shirt movements, this work explores the wounds that refuse to heal.

Thannapat Jarernpanit deconstructs the "Royal Nationalist Discourse" and analyzes why Thaksin Shinawatra became the primary target for the urban middle class. The book interrogates the "Thaksin Regime" narrative—not merely as a political critique, but as a perceived existential threat to the nation and the Monarchy.

The volume reveals the intricate layers of ideological warfare between "Conservative Democracy" and "Liberal Democracy," exposing how morality has been mobilized to justify exclusion and inequality.

"Thai society conceals and suppresses class inequality under the guise of 'Great Man' theory, Royal Nationalism, and 'Thais-ness'—a unity built upon the acceptance of hierarchy and knowing one's place. The elite and middle classes benefit more from patronage and connections than from democratic principles of rights and liberties. At their core, their 'habitus' is attuned to the patronage system; their adherence to Great Man theory and nationalism is a product of both a psychological and a political structure that serves their class interests."
— From the Foreword by Yos Santasombat

"In the wake of the 2006 coup, morality ceased to be a private or religious matter; it became a weapon used to topple governments and persecute individuals deemed 'immoral.' In both instances, 'immorality' was defined as a failure to demonstrate sufficient loyalty to the Monarchy. The Yellow Shirts viewed themselves as the paragons of virtue, turning morality into a public, political, and ultimately dangerous instrument of power."
— From the Foreword by Tyrell Haberkorn

Details
▪️Format : Paperback
▪️Piyavit Tepumnuaysakul : Editor-in-Chief
▪️Sittiwat Ruangpongsatorn : Editor
▪️Designed by ● SM STUDIO | Chirawat Rotaim ●
▪️Published : March 2023
▪️Length : 272 pages
▪️ISBN : 978-616-562-047-5
▪️Dimensions (in) : 5.25 x 8.25
▪️Price : 350 THB