|
Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social issues
|
Buy Now
The King and the Making of Modern Thailand (Paperback)
Loot Price: R1,525
Discovery Miles 15 250
|
|
|
The King and the Making of Modern Thailand (Paperback)
Series: Routledge Contemporary Southeast Asia Series
Expected to ship within 12 - 19 working days
|
The making of modern Thailand is grounded in specific political
institutions, Brahmanical tropes, and sacred Buddhist traditions
stylized with Hindu rituals. Over and above these mysterious
practices and ancient customs, modern Thailand is a product of the
late Great Rama IX Bhumibol Adulyadej. Most Thai people have only
known one King. Born in Europe and educated during World War II,
Bhumibol was the son of a Harvard medical doctor who had a penchant
for jazz music and fast cars. When he returned to Thailand in 1951
to assume his royal duties, he could hardly speak Thai but his
French and German were remarkable. Bhumibol had inherited an
impoverished country with nothing but a symbolic role as a
figurehead monarch. He was surrounded by envious courtiers and
royals from other families now sidelined by the rise of the Chakri.
Scheming generals and authoritarian field marshals were emptying
the Kingdom's coffers. Using guile and wit, Bhumibol had turned the
tide by 1973. He became the most powerful modern warlord in the
history of the Kingdom. He survived attempted murder, crafty
politicians, corrupt generals, sycophantic courtiers and
impoverished masses. When he died on October 13 2016, Bhumibol was
already the longest standing monarch in the world. King Bhumibol
was deeply respected and well-liked by farang and locals alike.
Despite his massive social and economic achievements many problems
continue to plague the Kingdom. These are prostitution, human
rights issues, pollution, corruption, cronyism in Chinese
businesses, border conflicts with Cambodia, and the refugee
problem. This book examines the role of Rama IX and the variegated
set of problems that persist in life under the great white elephant
and mango trees. Rappa draws from his primary research that
includes interviews, surveys and first-hand observations of a
remarkable kingdom and a uniquely remarkable king to reveal the
internal security threats to democracy and civil society in the
oldest Southeast Asian kingdom in late modernity.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
|
You might also like..
|
Email address subscribed successfully.
A activation email has been sent to you.
Please click the link in that email to activate your subscription.
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
(1)
