Thai politics as reality TV

Journal of Asian Studies

Volumn 68, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 7-19

  McCargo, Duncan ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 77953598899     PISSN: 00219118     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/S0021911809000072     Document Type: Article

References (26)

1. For an analysis of developments up to late September, see the International Crisis Group briefing "Thailand: Calming the Political Turmoil." September 22, 2008, at http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm? id=5689 (accessed October 24, 2008).
2. A useful starting point is the Web site PAD USA, which includes both Thai and English materials: http://www.padusa.org/2008/index.html (accessed October 24, 2008). Another with a similar mixture is http://antithaksin. wordpress.com/(accessed October 24, 2008).
3. For an elaboration, see Duncan McCargo, "Network Monarchy and Legitimacy Crises in Thailand." Pacific Review 18, no. 4(2005):499-519. On the king (Pubitemid 43123584)
4. see Paul M. Handley, The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 2006).
5. See Michael K. Connors, "Article of Faith: The Failure of Royal Liberalism in Thailand." Journal of Contemporary Asia 38, no. 1(2008):143-65.
6. Translated from Manager Online, http://www.manager.co.th/Home/ViewNews. aspx? NewsID=9510000060266 (accessed October 24, 2008).
7. The relevance of the Sino-Thai issue is explored in Kasian Tejapira, "The Misbehaving Jeks: The Evolving Regime of Thainess and Sino-Thai Challenges." paper presented at the "Chineseness Unbound: Boundaries, Burdens and Belongings of Chineseness Outside China" Conference, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, September 11, 2008.
8. For detailed discussions, see http://bangkokpundit.blogspot.com/2007/11/ bleg.html and http://www.sameskybooks.org/board/index.php?showtopic=4224&st= 0&gopid=18437&# (accessed October 24, 2008).
9. Bangkok Post, October 14, 2008.
10. See http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news-id= 255110120006. This source also discusses the case: http://www.prachatai.com/ english/news.php?id=838 (accessed October 31, 2008).
11. Personal communication, September 8, 2008.
12. Even the PAD's unofficial English-language Web site acknowledged that at least one PAD supporter was wielding a gun on October 7. See http://pad.vfly.net/en/297/nick-nostitzs-blogfact-hoax-summary/(accessed October 24, 2008). Some of the images on this site are very disturbing.
13. Full details are given at http://www.ryt9.com/news/2008-10-10/44883013/ (accessed October 24, 2008).
14. 48 percent of non-PAD supporters gave the same response, which needs to be understood as somewhat ubiquitous in a Thai context.
15. On the urban rural divide, see Nidhi Aeusrinvongse, "Kanprap rabopkanmuang" [Adjusting the political system], September 15, 2008, http://www.sameskybooks.org/2008/09/15/niti/(accessed October 31, 2008).
16. To confuse matters, the UDD is also sometimes referred to in English as the DAAD (Democratic Alliance Against Democracy).
17. For details of clashes see "Thailand: Government and Protestors Should End Political Violence." Human Rights Watch, October 15, 2008, http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/10/14/thaila19975.htm (accessed October 24, 2008).
18. For a sympathetic discussion of the UDD, complete with excellent photographs, see a piece by Nick Nostick on the blog New Mandala: http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/2008/09/14/beyond-the-stereotypes-of- thailands-reds/(accessed October 24, 2008).
19. Ironically, t-shirts depicting the statue of King Taksin at Wongwian Yai, Thonburi, were also worn by many PAD guards; both sides laid claim to his maverick legacy.
20. For interviews with Sondhi on the subject of new politics, se." Phim khiew: kanmuang mai [Green print], Nation Sutsapda, July 11, 2008, pp. 12-15;
21. and Shawn W. Crispin, "What Sondhi Really Wants for Thailand." Asia Times Online, September 9, 2008, http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast- Asia/JI09Ae01.html (accessed October 24, 2008).
22. For discussions and translations of new politics and PAD thinking in English, see Michael K. Connor's essential blog, http://www.sovereignmyth. blogspot.com/
23. and his essay "Thailand-Four Elections and a Coup." Australian Journal of International Affairs 62, no. 4(2008):482-85. In interviews with PAD leaders, Connors discovered significant disagreements among them concerning the meaning of "new politics."
24. Matichon, September 14, 2008.
25. Matichon, September 14, 2008.
26. Khom Chat Luk, September 14, 2008.