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A Plastic Nation

The Curse of Thainess in Thai-Burmese Relations

Pavin Chachavalpongpun author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:University Press of America

Published:18th Aug '05

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

A Plastic Nation cover

A Plastic Nation examines the role of Thai nationhood in domestic and international politics. Although in fact ill-defined, Thainess, or khwampenthai, has been consistently used by Thai leaders to legitimize their power and defend their economic interests. Not only has the assertion of Thainess been deeply rooted in the private interests of those in power, it has been deployed as part of nationalist sentiment to guard against any international norms, often considered as threats to the leaders' own interests. This book is intended for students and professors in the field of Thai nationhood and nationalism, contemporary Thai-Burmese relations, and policy practitioners in the government and military

In many ways this is an interesting book presenting a fresh perspective on Thai-Myanmar relations that should attract wide readership from scholars who work on Thailand and Myanmar...Pavin has displayed great courage in publishing this bookkkkk -- N. Ganesan * Contemporary Southeast Asia *
...presents his argument very well, and anyone interested in the evolution of Thai nationhood–and how and why Thai perceptions of "the Burmese threat" have changed since the 1950s and 1960s–should read this book. -- Bertil Lintner * The Irrawaddy Online Edition *
Despite the problematic analyses of norms and nationhood, the book provides an interesting look at Thai perceptions of the country's historical arch-rival and the domestic discourses related to the current policies and relationship with Burma. It tells many interesting stories of the relationship that are illuminating beyond the issue of Thainess. -- Thongchai Winichakul * Pacific Affairs *
In many ways this is an interesting book presenting a fresh perspective on Thai-Myanmar relations that should attract wide readership from scholars who work on Thailand and Myanmar...Pavin has displayed great courage in publishing this book -- N. Ganesan * Contemporary Southeast Asia *

ISBN: 9780761831525

Dimensions: 228mm x 154mm x 18mm

Weight: 304g

206 pages