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The Lost Territories - Thailand’s History of National Humiliation (Paperback)
Loot Price: R859
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The Lost Territories - Thailand’s History of National Humiliation (Paperback)
Series: Southeast Asia: Politics, Meaning, and Memory
Expected to ship within 12 - 17 working days
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It is a cherished belief among Thai people that their country was
never colonized. Yet politicians, scholars, and other media figures
chronically inveigh against Western colonialism and the imperialist
theft of Thai territory. Thai historians insist that the country
adapted to the Western-dominated world order more successfully than
other Southeast Asian kingdoms and celebrate their proud history of
independence. But many Thai leaders view the West as a threat and
portray Thailand as a victim. Clearly Thailand's relationship with
the West is ambivalent. The Lost Territories explores this
conundrum by examining two important and contrasting strands of
Thai historiography: the well-known Royal-Nationalist ideology,
which celebrates Thailand's long history of uninterrupted
independence; and what the author terms "National Humiliation
discourse," its mirror image. Shane Strate examines the origins and
consequences of National Humiliation discourse, showing how the
modern Thai state has used the idea of national humiliation to
sponsor a form of anti-Western nationalism. Unlike triumphalist
Royal-Nationalist narratives, National Humiliation history depicts
Thailand as a victim of Western imperialist bullying. Focusing on
key themes such as extraterritoriality, trade imbalances, and
territorial loss, National Humiliation history maintains that the
West impeded Thailand's development even while professing its
support and cooperation. Although the state remains the hero in
this narrative, it is a tragic heroism defined by suffering and
foreign oppression. Through his insightful analysis of state and
media sources, Strate demonstrates how Thai politicians have
deployed National Humiliation imagery in support of ethnic
chauvinism and military expansion. He shows how the discourse
became the ideological foundation of Thailand's irredentist
strategy, the state's anti-Catholic campaign, and its acceptance of
pan-Asianism during World War II; and how the "state as victim"
narrative has been used by politicians to redefine Thai identity
and elevate the military into the role of national savior. The Lost
Territories will be of particular interest to historians and
political scientists for the light it sheds on many episodes of
Thai foreign policy, including the contemporary dispute over Preah
Vihear. The book's analysis of the manipulation of historical
memory will interest academics exploring similar phenomena
worldwide.
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