Lords of Property: A Critique of Thailand’s Contemporary Political Economy - Puangchon Unchanam

Lords of Property: A Critique of Thailand’s Contemporary Political Economy
By Puangchon Unchanam

A searing critique of the unbreakable nexus between Capital, Politics, and Class. What lies beneath the surface of this inseparable relationship?

Lords of Property interrogates the profound and often opaque entanglements between the monarchy and Thailand’s political economy. It dissects the symbiotic roles of the country's primary protagonists: the "Tycoons" (Chao Sua), politicians, the military, and the bourgeoisie.

The central inquiry of this volume addresses a series of urgent, systemic questions: How do these entities dictate the trajectory of the Kingdom’s economy and society? In what ways are they tethered to the current political regime, and how do they exacerbate the crises of inequality, capital monopoly, exploitation, and political instability? Most importantly, how has this coalition facilitated Thailand’s democratic backsliding and fueled deep-seated class conflict and social alienation?

Puangchon Unchanam exposes the "core" of these dynamics with academic rigor, grounding his analysis in global theoretical frameworks. Drawing upon the intellectual legacies of thinkers such as Adam Smith, Friedrich Hegel, Karl Marx, and David Harvey, the author maps the evolution of the Thai economic system. He provides a critical deconstruction of deep-rooted Thai economic concepts—ranging from the "Sufficiency Economy" philosophy and "Philanthropic Capitalism" to the enduring structures of the patronage system.

"...It is the height of absurdity and hypocrisy for the ruling elite to feign paternalistic concern for the economic well-being of the populace, all while posturing as paragons of restraint and frugality...

These very individuals are, in fact, the most extravagant members of society—without exception. They would do well to mind their own profligacy and allow the people to manage their own resources. If the state has not yet collapsed under their immense waste, it certainly will not crumble should the people seek to exercise their own agency over their wealth."

From a publisher’s perspective, this volume represents one of the most intellectually concentrated and uncompromising critiques ever released. It is a work that does not merely observe power—it challenges its very foundations.


Details
▪️Format : Paperback
▪️Piyavit Tepumnuaysakul : Editor-in-Chief
▪️Aekkasit Thiamtham : Editor
▪️Designed by ● SM STUDIO | Chirawat Rotaim ●
▪️Published : October 2023
▪️Length : 392 pages
▪️ISBN : 978-616-562-057-4
▪️Dimensions (in) : 5.25 x 8.25
▪️Price : 450 THB