Abstract
The Political Development of Modern Thailand by Federico Ferrara is an excellent account of Thailand’s political history to date. The book begins with an examination of the state-building process that not only marked the beginning of the 1932 National Revolution but also highlights the articulation of the official ideology, which forms the basis of Thailand’s contemporary royal nationalism. Ferrara provides a chronological narrative of Thailand’s political development and an analytical causal explanation framed in explicit theoretical forms about the long-standing political instability in Thailand.
With years of thoughtful research, Ferrara has been able to successfully identify and analyse the changing political structures in Thailand. Ferrara’s deep research makes a significant contribution by communicating to the audience the intricacies involved as to how Thailand rose from a deep state of crisis by a royalist military coup staged in 2006 to a modern interpretation of state identity. The book starts with a description of the conceptual issues of democracy followed by the classification of its methodology and structure and finally ends up by examining the limitations of this study. Ferrera also analyses how the relationship between nationalism and democracy became a building block in explaining Thailand’s regime instability.
Modern Thailand examines how a growing rift between the hierarchical worldview of Thailand’s hegemonic ‘royal nationalism’ and the aspirations of millions of people has come to harbour as a result of modernization. The author makes an engaging analysis about the interplay of structural and contingent factors that prepared the country towards military rule, and how the lack of legitimacy created a vacuum in the Thai administration. Ferrera traces the roots of the crisis to unresolved struggles dating back to the abolition of absolute monarchy in 1932, which was initiated by a group of military and civilian officials. In fact the 1932 revolution led to a transition of power when King Prajadhipok was forced to grant the Siamese their first constitution, thereby ending the century old institution of absolute monarchy. From 1932 until 1973 and beyond, Thailand was dominated by military dictatorships. Although the 1973 protests led the country towards democracy, it was rather rough and short. Currently, Thailand enjoys constitutional monarchy under a military junta.
The book depicts the emergence of semi-democracy in Thailand in the late 1970s and its subsequent adaptation to the Thai-style democracy. In fact, Modern Thailand is a historical narrative of Thailand’s seemingly unending succession of coups, constitutions, armed rebellions, popular uprisings and so on. Ferrera does a wonderful job by explaining to the audience the reasons behind the unresolved nature of such conflicts. He even explains why the formation of an alliance between monarchy, military and bureaucracy is not conducive for a durable authoritarian regime. The author also traces the roots of the Red Shirt movement and explains as to how such incidents became the cause of the re-emergence of Thailand’s unfinished national revolution. He further explains that the three most important elements that are responsible for Thailand’s current political situation are the politicization of constituencies, the concept of Thainess and finally a decline in the legitimacy (p. 13). The book finally sums up the reasons behind Thailand’s political instability and helps us understand the challenges involved behind the country’s ongoing instability.
The rise and fall of Thaksin Shinawatra and the ongoing political crisis has left the country unsettled combined with critical issues of long-term cultural change, socio-economic transformations, as well as conscious strategic decisions. Even decades later after the crushing defeat of Prince Boworadet’s ‘Blue Army’, people still demonstrate in the streets of Bangkok and demand the removal of Yingluck Shinawatra’s elected government. In fact, the protest leaders have called for a People’s Revolution while trying to defend the constitution. Modern Thailand highlights how the nationalization of the fight between the populist and the royalist has resulted in its merger with regional cleavages that were also formed as a consequence of Thailand’s process of state formation (p. xiii). In fact, the royalist positions, political parties and social movements draw much of their support from the Bangkok metropolitan area today while the populist positions often resonate more in the recently integrated areas in Thailand (p. xiii).
The book highlights the most important question as to why Thailand is still under scrutiny with respect to monarchy and democracy? No doubt, this book is a bold attempt made by the author in asking the reasons behind constant political instability in Thailand. It also helps us understand the history of democracy and authoritarian political thought. In fact, Ferrara’s profound analysis about Thailand’s transition to democracy is a truly special and unique work that makes the audience to crave for more. The book portrays the fight over the content of Thailand’s national identity as well as over the formal and informal institutions through which Thailand exercises its sovereignty. The author makes a wonderful point by explaining the shifting of alignments in Thailand from a parliamentary dictatorship to a genuine democracy and also how ordinary citizens have become increasingly active on both sides of the ongoing struggle for Thailand’s future.
Modern Thailand offers valuable insights on the unfinished business of the 1932 revolution against absolute monarchy and is a must read for anyone interested in Asian politics in general or about the long-drawn process of political transition in Thailand. In other words, this book provides an excellent grounding and foundation for students across the social science disciplines as well as for scholars who are eager to understand the political perspectives on democracy, and their struggle to get there. The much-awaited journey to a consolidated democracy in Thailand is like a roller coaster ride that requires serious commitment of the Thai people towards their king, their society and above all their country. However, Ferrera could have discussed the fact that in spite of intermittent political challenges, the Thai society has remained stable due to the enduring role-played by the monarchs. Today, Thailand is strongly committed to participatory and multiparty democracy based on good governance. How such things have been possible remains a big question.