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David K. Wyatt (2nd Ed, 2003, Silkworm Books, Chiang-Mai, P 204)'Thailand - A Short History'
Professor Wyatt (based at Cornell University until his recent retirement) seems to have become the doyenne of Thai History rendered in English. Silkworm Books has published several of his works. This is most definitely a 'short' history, which is exactly what the average expat needs to make better sense of the Thai world around him or her. This book is rarely exciting, but Wyatt has the ability to get his perceptive points over in a very concise & interesting manner. And where he has obviously self-censored (the events of 1946, for example), he usually leaves the reader well able to read between the lines.
595 Baht well-spent, when you compare it with most of the throw-away stuff written in English about Thailand.
FEATURED FRONTPAGE
Already available, even in some 'Ban Nawk' bookshops:-
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Beyond the Tales of Kings and Wars
October 2005
By Bertil Lintner
A bold new interpretation of Thailand’s history
'A History of Thailand', by Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge & New York; 2005. P301.
There is no shortage of books about the history of Thailand, glorifying its real or imaginary rulers and their wars against aggressive neighbors, usually the Burmese. In a way, this is a reflection of Thailand’s unique social and political development in a continent that for decades, even centuries, was ruled by Western powers. As the American historian Craig Reynolds has pointed out: “The country’s much-vaunted escape from colonial domination meant that no group or class or party rose up to demand, and ultimately to wrest, sovereignty from foreign masters and also that the institutions that responded to the pressures of Western imperialism in the nineteenth century survived and adjusted to contend with the internal and external challenges of the twentieth.”
Consequently, Reynolds argued, “Western writers inevitably convey to their readers the idea of ‘Thailand—a conservative state’,” and the writing of Thai history in English “remains monumentally non-controversial.” Many Thai scholars in the past also tended to avoid anything that could be interpreted as controversial and contrary to the officially accepted version of Thai history.
The first real attempt to break with that tradition—in Thai, though —came when, in 1957, a young and idealistic academic, Jit Phumisak, wrote his now classic The Real Face of Thai Feudalism Today. The following year, the book was banned and its author sent to languish in Bangkok’s notorious Lard Yao prison. He later fled to the jungle where he joined the insurgent Communist Party of Thailand—and was killed in an encounter in the Phu Phan mountains in the northeast in 1966.
Today, Thailand is a far more open and democratic society, and serious historical research is possible, without the scholars having to risk their lives, or go underground. A more mature, less polarized society also means that historians can be more balanced and less politically biased in their interpretations of Thai history. But even so, few historians have dared to approach the country’s past and present with a critical eye—not until Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit wrote their history of Thailand. Published this year by Cambridge University Press, it is not only the first published history of Thailand for two decades but also the first, in English, to look beyond the tales of kings and wars.
Baker and Pasuk examine the emergence of modern Thailand in the context of the abolition of slavery at the turn of the last century, which turned unfree labor into a rural society of smallholder peasants, and the development of urban centers populated mainly by poor migrants from southern China, who later became the new plutocracy. A traditional polity was transformed into a new nation-state under a strengthened monarchy. A new Thai national identity was forged on the basis of newly-interpreted traditions and values that may not necessarily be older than the struggle to maintain Thai nationhood and independence at a time when colonial powers were closing in from all sides.
Urban nationalists, ambitious generals, Sino-Thai businessmen and bankers, peasant organizers in rural areas, communist rebels and various social and religious movements all contested to control this emerging nation-state and define its purpose. That struggle is not yet over, as a new generation of business-politicians now have come to the fore and challenged traditional institutions and social structures without providing any real alternative other than corporate power.
Somewhat ironically, the massive reform movement in 1992, which epitomized the liberal values of the new middle class, in the end had to give way to a new form of money politics. At the same time, the new rulers have played heavily on Thai nationalist feelings. Today, the Thai flag can be seen on every Bangkok bus with the old-era invocation to “unite the Thai blood-and-flesh-lineage-race,” while the sky trains display massive advertisements for the latest electronic gadgets.
Baker and Pasuk are well-placed to analyze this development in its rightful social and economic context. Baker taught history at Cambridge University and has lived in Thailand for more than two decades. Pasuk took a PhD from Cambridge and has written extensively on the Thai economy, the intertwined problems of corruption and democratization, labor and migration. Together, they present a comprehensive picture of modern Thai history, making sense of forces and events that to many outsiders may appear bewildering, confusing, and even contradictory. It is also a bold book, published at a time when “advocates of the strong state repeatedly revert to nationalist arguments to denigrate opposing ideas as ‘un-Thai’.” Baker and Pasuk’s book may present a different interpretation of Thai history, but it is certainly not “un-Thai.” It is an excellent account of the development of modern Thailand, written by two knowledgeable and very concerned social commentators.
Ahoerstemeier
17-10-05, 06:14 PM
Already available, even in some 'Ban Nawk' bookshops:-
What is the price of this book in Thailand - Amazon.com has it only for a rather high price-tag of 60$. If the Thai price is more reasonable then it'll be on my shopping list for the next trip to BKK...
Off hand, I seem to remember that it is about 860 Baht, which seems a tad expensive compared to say the Wyatt Thailand Histories. Had a quick flick through it and it looked a bit more contemporary in its appraoch than Wyatt, but at the time I was feeling a bit parsimonious. I'll let you'all know when I've read it.
I've got some of their earlier work about contemporary politics and they're written for the layman, not really an academic approach.
I'll be interested in their book when I pass through as well as Wyatts...
Here's a page showing the Index of the book:-
http://www.cup.cam.ac.uk/us/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521816157&ss=ind
Khun004
21-11-05, 08:58 AM
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_A History of Thailand_
Chris Baker and Pusak Phongpaichit
Cambridge University Press, 2005
ISBN 0-521-01647-9
This is fascinating reading.
I just bought the book last week and already am on page 168.
I'm pleasantly surprised at the thoughtful, balanced, perspective on Thai history.
The authors give a careful rendition of "official" history.
Then they explain the reasons motivating that version..
Then they go on to detail what really happened and the causes.
Their perspective is wide: not just battles, wars and elections, but, also, economic motivations, political power struggles, xenophobia against the encroaching Chinese, growth of technology, and expansion of market economy replacing subsistance farming.
For example, the authors detail the Thai-ification of the Chinese immigrants as they emerged from coolie labor into trade in rice and on to later generations who established large, industrial and trading firms.
They explain the Thai penchant for appearing "siliwai" (civilized), and the various royal edicts about clothing, speach and behavior to promote that over the years.
They explain the social effects of new roads built throughout Issan in the 1960 by the US military - and how improved bus service on those roads enabled labor migration to Bangkok.
In every topic the authors dig deep to explain underlying causes.
And they consistently maintain an objective approach.
Given our era's wide-spread infection of post-modern, deconstruction and political correctness, I was prepared for anti-capitalist, leftist, premises on every page.
But this book has somehow escaped such contamination.
That's refreshing!
I highly recommend Baker and Phongpaichit's _History of Thailand_ for anyone who wants a clear understanding of how Siam/Thailand became the nation it is today.
I purchased in Bangkok at Chula University Book Center: upstairs on the balcony (foreign language books section).
Nominal cost is 750 baht, but at check-out was given a discount of 10%.
That was a pleasant surprise.
.
How does the book compare to Wyatt's (always a respectable piece of work, imho)?
Remembered being somewhat unimpressed while flicking through this at Foyles in London, but then, I was only perusing through the section on the fall of the absolute monarchy (conclusion I made was that I've seen more detailed studies on said topic and that I liked Wyatt's concluding commentary/interpretation best).
Might very well have to browse through it again.
Giles Ungphakorn's 'Radicalising Thailand' has some rather unflattering things to say about Baker & Pasuk's collaborative history work. Not that those comments would put me off reading this history. On the contrary! 'Ji' seems convinced that almost all of 'us' are laboring under the very wrong impression that Thailand has never really enjoyed a true taste of radical left-wing struggle. He seems to believe that the CP of T miscalculated by taking a Maoist struggle to rural areas in the 70s; thus destroying socialist networks that were already beginning to pay dividends in Central Thailand's burgeoning industrial belt. He seems to find Baker & Pasuk somewhat lacking, in as much as he thinks they tend to see things from a rather insipid 'Civil Society' Western viewpoint.
;) He has a point, although my thoughts on the matter tend to come more from the gut level than political analysis. Guess that's what comes from remaining a Chessboard Pawn rather than a Political Ideologue.
I'm waiting to see this revisited review of 'Democracy Shaken & Stirred' that Ron is promising; partly because I know Khun PKV finds the book somewhat lacking in atmosphere. (Indeed, I'm wondering whether you wrote the review, PK?) As for me, I tend to read books that other people find stylishly lacking with the notion that even the more factual content is interesting. I'm very interested in Ron's allusion to the 'impurity of protest'. It seems to me to be a recipe for complete inaction; and seems to ignore the fact that Isaan farmers are sometimes quite capable of figuring out for themselves where they have been 'used' by their supposed allies:-
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=7190#post7190
I've read the Thai version many, many moons ago, and have checked out certain translated excerpts - either way, the novel truly lacks atmosphere, imho.
In fact, I'd go as far to say that it very much reads like an ennui-filled textbook: he did this at this point, he did that on that day, etc. In fact, most of the story (iirc, that is) is basically made up of vignettes in which characters simply talk about an event that had happened or some plan about to take fruit.
Take the scene where the two men are out in the countryside, travelling in a motorcar, discussing the "recent" 1947 coup. Or the aftermath(?) of the Manhattan coup. Or when our protagonists discusses the "future" consequences of Gen. Prem's directive to grant amnesty to the insurgents. That's all they do.
So, we get to know what happened and the author's intepretation of what happened. Other than that, nothing. There's no feel for the period; the historical cast fail to come to life and are but cardboard caricatures.
Stylistically, I find the prose rather succint and simple (i.e. as opposed to my preferred choice of Updike's pleonastic splendour or even the minimalistic finery of Murakami).
Perhaps I was just expecting to see something reminiscent of Farrell's magnum opus The Singapore Grip when picking up Win's paperback.
All that said, I might as well add that I do like Win's books in that they are cor in terms of layout and design. Storywise, หลังอานบุรี, a lighthearted satire on politics set in a world of dogs (which as an aside is dedicated to Pridi, Dr. Puey, and all "clean politicians") is a favourite of mine.
I completely agree with your impression that the main players just sit around & analyse what has just happened, or what might soon happen. And the face-off at the beginning seems to owe more to 'The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly' than anything else. Although it did occur to me that is pretty much what hired gunmen, policeman, army officers, high-level government officials, radicals, politicians & vote canvassers do all day - Sit around bitching and issue the occasional ugly threat. ;) And perhaps someone dies.
I've read a few books published by White Lotus Press & Orchid Books. Their books seem to constitute a considerable Thai (& SEA) history resource:-
http://www.whitelotusbooks.com/
http://www.orchidbooks.com/
http://www.riverbooksbk.com/catalog/index.php
Bookstores for 'Asian' Books:-
http://usehttp://www.riverbooksbk.com/catalog/index.phprs.erols.com/arbs/asia.htm
Asian Rare Books:-
http://users.erols.com/arbs/
Dalley Book Service:-
http://www.dalleybookservice.com/catalogue.html
Old Book Room:-
http://www.oldbookroom.com/
Amazing Asian Links:-
http://users.erols.com/arbs/links.html
Quite useful when quick reminders are needed.
Chronology:-
http://www.simply-thai.com/Thailand_Chronology_Thai_History.htm
Monarchy:-
http://www.simply-thai.com/Thailand_History_Monarchy.htm
Kings of Thailand:-
http://www.simply-thai.com/Thailand_History_Kings.htm
Thai Buddhism - An Intro from the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand:-
http://www.simply-thai.com/Thailand_page_Buddhism_Introduction.htm
Off hand, I seem to remember that it is about 860 Baht, which seems a tad expensive compared to say the Wyatt Thailand Histories. Had a quick flick through it and it looked a bit more contemporary in its approach than Wyatt, but at the time I was feeling a bit parsimonious. I'll let you'all know when I've read it.
895 Baht at Asia Books in Siam Discovery. I've already read a couple of chapters. My main impression so far is that Wyatt covered early 'Thai' history in a great deal more detail. That said, I think Baker & Pasuk have added some new perspectives that will make their history a bit more accessible to a non-academic audience.
So positive, so far!
The homepage of Pasuk Phongpaichit:-
http://pioneer.netserv.chula.ac.th/~ppasuk/index.htm
http://pioneer.netserv.chula.ac.th/~ppasuk/stephffsviewthumb.jpg
It does gloss over some episodes with insufficient data, but I'm of the opinion that it makes a good complement to Wyatt's work. This history is a great deal less academic than Wyatt, but it is prepared to make flat-out comments about subjects that Wyatt will only hint at. Now, I suspect there's a body of thought out there in the ether that will view their contribution to Thai history as too simplistic (they do have a point!), but with Wyatt you can pretty much tell where he has been asked to tone it down; or where he has decided to tone it down for his own peace of mind. A reader of Wyatt's work will often realise that some rather unsavory events occurred, while a reader of 'Baker & Pasuk' will have a much clearer idea of why certain personalities were unable to coexist.
RECOMMENDED so far, even if it is somewhat lacking in detail & sophistication for the more academically-inclined reader. My guess is that this history is designed to be read as an introduction to Thai history, for those who have had no real previous contact with the subject matter; which is probably why I am currently enjoying it.
Does anyone know if there are any plans to publish this work in Thai?
I would recommend these two rather thin 'Silkworm' books to anyone who needs a very basic intro to the background of the southern insurgency.
'History of the Malay Kingdom of Patani - Sejarah Kerajaan Melayu Pattani'.
Original Jawi Version by Ibrahim Syukri. Translated by Bailey & Miksic (2005) Silkworm Books. Here's a review by Bertil Lintner:-
http://www.asiapacificms.com/articles/kingdom_of_conflict/
Silkworm's blurb:-
http://www.silkwormbooks.info/each_titles/e_thailand/patani.htm
Muslims of Thailand - Michael Gilquin - Silkworm (2005):-
http://www.silkwormbooks.info/each_titles/e_thailand/muslims.htm
Ahoerstemeier
16-11-06, 05:13 AM
http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/11/16/headlines/images/30019121-01.jpg
[Photo: The Nation - Professor Wyatt has long been recognised as a leading authority on Southeast Asia and the foremost historian of Thailand. He also spoke fluent Thai.]
As most of us have probably read at least one his books, it is sad to hear that David K. Wyatt died yesterday of multiple sclerosis, which he fought with for the last 7 years.
Obituary of The Nation:
http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/11/16/headlines/headlines_30019121.php
OBITUARY
Acclaimed historian David Wyatt dies
Professor Wyatt has long been recognised as a leading authority on Southeast Asia and the foremost historian of Thailand. He also spoke fluent Thai.
Thai studies expert aged 69 passes away in New York after long battle with MS
Acclaimed Thai studies professor David Wyatt passed away yesterday. He had been suffering from multiple sclerosis for seven years and had spent the last year of his life at the Kendall Nursing Home in Ithaca, New York State.
He died peacefully with his wife Alene by his side. Wyatt was 69.
Thai intellectuals mourned the loss of Wyatt, who made great contributions to Thai and Southeast Asian studies.
"Even during his retirement and failing health, David continued to write, to give lectures, and to mentor students. He is a role model and an inspiration to all of us," Thak Chaloemtiarana, director of the Southeast Asia Program at Cornell University, wrote in a note to his friends and colleagues in Thailand.
Professor Wyatt has long been recognised as a leading authority on Southeast Asia and the foremost historian of Thailand. He also spoke fluent Thai.
"David Wyatt was a great teach-er. Without him the history of Thailand would not have reached this far," said Charnvit Kasetsiri, a well-respected historian who was the first Thai advisee of Wyatt at Cornell University in 1970s.
Wyatt wrote many books on Thai history. Among his publications, "Thailand: A Short History" is his milestone and became the standard textbook on Thai history. The book, first published by Yale University Press in 1984, and then Silkworm Books in 1991, has been reprinted many times. The book is the authority on Thai history in the English world, Charnvit said.
Well-known writer Chiranan Pitpreecha, who was Wyatt's last advisee at Cornell, praised her teacher as "a pillar in the field of Thai and Southeast Asian Studies".
Born in 1937, Wyatt studied philosophy at Harvard University, where he gained a bachelor's degree in 1959. He received an MA in History from Boston University in 1960. He graduated from Cornell University with a PhD in History in 1966.
His book "The Politics of Reform in Thailand (1969)" was his dissertation at Cornell.
From 1964 to 1968, Wyatt taught Southeast Asia History at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of Lon-don. From 1968 to 1969, he taught at the University of Michigan.
Subsequently, in 1969 he accepted a teaching position at Cornell University, where he served as director of the Southeast Asia program, chair of the Department of History, and the John Stambaugh Professor of History & Asian Studies, before retiring in 2002.
Dr Wyatt briefly served as interim curator of the Echols Collection at Cornell University in 2005.
Over four decades of research in Southeast Asian studies Wyatt collected an impressive collection of historical documents.
The collection - acquired by Ohio University's Alden library in October last year - consists of roughly 15,000 volumes, about half of which are in Thai, and includes most of the standard works on Thailand and Southeast Asia in general, a substantial number of Thai royal chronicles, the greater part of King Chulalongkorn's (1868-1910) diaries and letters, and an extensive array of monographs, memoirs and cremation volumes.
"David Wyatt to Thai history is like DGE Hall to Southeast Asian history. He validates its existence as a field of studies," said Professor Thongchai Winichakul, of University of Wisconsin-Madison's Centre of Southeast Asian Studies.
Subhatra Bhumiprabhas
The Nation
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