A HISTORY OF THAILAND

This lively, accessible book is the first new history of Thailand in English for two decades. Drawing on new Thai-language research, it ranges widely over political, economic, social, and cultural themes.

   Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit reveal how a world of mandarin nobles and unfree labour evolved into a rural society of smallholder peasants and an urban society populated mainly by migrants from southern China. They trace how a Buddhist cosmography adapted to new ideas of time and space, and a traditional polity was transformed into a new nation-state under a strengthened monarchy.

   The authors cover the contests between urban nationalists, ambitious generals, communist rebels, business politicians, and social movements to control the nation-state and redefine its purpose. They describe the dramatic changes wrought by a booming economy, globalization, and the evolution of mass society. Finally, they show how Thailand’s path is still being contested by those who believe in change from above and those who fight for democracy and liberal values.

Chris Baker taught Asian history at Cambridge University, and has lived in Thailand for over twenty years. He is now an independent writer, researcher, and translator. Pasuk Phongpaichit is Professor of Economics at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. She has written widely in Thai and English on the Thai economy, sex industry, corruption, illegal economy, and social movements. Together, they have co-authored Thailand: Economics and Politics, Thailand’s Boom and Bust, Thailand’s Crisis, and Thaksin: The Business of Politics in Thailand.

A HISTORY OF THAILAND

CHRIS BAKER

PASUK PHONGPAICHIT

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
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Cambridge University Press
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Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York

www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521816157

© Christopher John Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit 2005

This book is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception
and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,
no reproduction of any part may take place without
the written permission of Cambridge University Press.

First published 2005

Produced in China through Bookbuilders

Typeface Adobe Garamond 11/12.5 pt.     System LATEX 2_e   [TB]

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

National Library of Australia Cataloguing in Publication data

Baker, Christopher John, 1948–.
A history of Thailand.
ISBN-13 978-0-521-81615-7 hardback
ISBN-10 0-521-81615-7 hardback
ISBN-13 978-0-521-01647-9 paperback
ISBN-10 0-521-01647-9 paperback
Includes index.
ISBN 0 521 81615 7.
1. Thailand – History. I. Pasuk Phongpaichit. II. Title.
959.3

ISBN-13 978-0-521-81615-7 hardback
ISBN-10 0-521-81615-7 hardback
ISBN-13 978-0-521-01647-9 paperback
ISBN-10 0-521-01647-9 paperback

Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this work and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Contents

Illustrations

FIGURES

Preface

History was invented for the nation-state. It has a tendency to imagine ‘the false unity of a self-same, national subject evolving through time’ (Prasenjit Duara). All too easily, the nation becomes something natural which always existed but was only properly realized in the nation-state. In reaction against this tendency, historians today prefer to write about people, things, ideas, localities, regions, or the globe – anything but the nation. Or else they write reflective histories about the interplay between the nation and the production of its own history.

   The approach adopted here is to make the career of the nation-state the explicit focus of the story. One of the themes of this book is about how the idea of the nation and the machinery of the nation-state were established in Thailand, and then how different social forces tried to make use of it – by reinterpreting what the nation meant, and by seeking to control or influence the use of state power. The second major theme is about the evolution of the social forces involved. After the introductory chapter, the chapters alternate between these two themes, though the division is rough not rigid.

   The publishers want the books in this series to be accessible to a wide readership, not too long and not overloaded with academic referencing. Our policy has been to limit footnoting to the sources for direct quotations. The appendix of ‘Readings’ cites major published works in English, but rather little has been published in English on modern Thailand over the past generation. In Thai there has been a huge amount, and even more exists in unpublished theses in both Thai and English. Our dependence on these works should be easily recognizable by their authors and other experts. Some of the most important are: Srisak Vallibhotama, Geoff Wade, Phiset Jiajanphong, Sratsawadi Ongsakun on early history; Nidhi Eoseewong, Saichon Sattayanurak on early Bangkok society; Davisakdi Puaksom, Attachak Sattayanurak, Rujaya Abhakorn on the Chulalongkorn reform era; Phimpraphai Phisanbut, Chamnongsri Rutnin, Panni Bualek on city society; Chatthip Nartsupha, David Johnston, Atsushi Kitahara on rural society; Nakharin Mektrairat, Eiji Murashima, Thamrongsak Petchloetanan, Chanida Phromphayak Puaksom, Saichon Sattayanurak, Chaloemkiat Phianuan, Morakot Jewachinda, Vichitvong na Pombejra, Phenphisut Inthraphirom, Matt Copeland on nationalisms; Chalong Soontravanich, Somsak Jeamteerasakul, Suthachai Yimprasoet, Charnvit Kasetsiri on the American era; Praphat Pintobtaeng, Thirayuth Boonmi, Anek Laothamatas, Ubonrat Siriyuvasak, James Ockey, Kasian Tejapira, Thongchai Winichakul on Thailand since 1975. We would like to record our appreciation and thanks, along with apologies for any shortcomings in our use of these works.

   The book was written in Thailand but with indispensable help from forays to libraries and research centres. We are especially grateful to the Center of Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies in Copenhagen, Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington, and the libraries of the Australian National University and Cambridge University.

   We would like to thank Kevin Hewison, Craig Reynolds, Malcom Falkus, Grant Evans, Andrew Brown, and John Funston who commented on earlier drafts of the manuscript.

   For help in finding the illustrations, thanks to the Thailand National Archives, Thammasat University Archives, Bangkok Post, The Nation, Siam Society, Anake Nawikamune, Charnvit Kasetsiri, Chatchawan Chatsuthichai, Daoruang Naewthong, Ekkarin Latthasaksiri, Kane Sarika, Kovit Sanandaeng, Krairoek Nana, Nantiya Tangwisutijit, Pana Janviroj, Piriya Krairiksh, Sa-ard Angkunwat, Sakdina Chatrakul na Ayudhya, Sanga Luchapatthanakon, Sharon O’Toole, Somsuda Leyavanija, Steve Van Beek, Subhatra Bhumiprabhas, Thamrongsak Petchloetanan, and Warunee Osatharam.

NOTE ON TRANSLITERATION AND NAMES

Official spellings are used for kings and places, and conventional forms for some well-known names. Otherwise, Thai is translated using the Royal Institute system, with the exception of using ‘j’ for jo jan.

Abbreviations

Glossary

Chronology