A Kingdom in Crisis Thailand's Struggle for Democracy in the Twenty-First Century

Struggling to emerge from a despotic past, Thailand stands at a defining moment in its history. Scores have been killed on the streets of Bangkok. Freedom of speech is routinely denied. Democracy appears increasingly distant. Long dreaded by Thais, the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej is expected to unleash even greater instability.

Yet in spite of the impact of the crisis, and the extraordinary importance of the royal succession, they have never been comprehensively analyzed, because Thailand's draconian lese majesté law has silenced most discussion - until now. Breaking Thailand's draconian lese majesté Andrew MacGregor Marshall is one of the only journalists covering contemporary Thailand who tells the whole story. He provides a comprehensive explanation that makes sense of the crisis for the first time, revealing the unacknowledged succession conflict that has become entangled with the struggle for democracy in Thailand.

Andrew MacGregor Marshall is a journalist, political risk consultant and corporate investigator, focusing mainly on Southeast Asia. spent 17 years as a correspondent for Reuters, covering amongst others conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and political upheaval in Thailand. Marshall resigned from Reuters 2011 after the news agency refused to publish his analysis of leaked U.S. cables illuminating the role played by Thailand's monarchy in the political conflict that has engulfed the kingdom. A fugitive from Thai law as a result of his journalism about the royal family, he now lives in Singapore.

Introduction: Telling the truth about Thailand
1. 'When the legends die, all collapses'  - Thailand's Political Awakening
2. 'In a never-never land, never mind'  - Welcome to the Land of Smiles
3. 'Cosmological bluster'  - The Dramatics of Despotism
PART II: THAI-STYLE DEMOCRACY AND ITS DISCONTENTS
4. 'Our country belongs to the people – not to the king'  - Thailand's Unfinished Revolution
5. 'I really am an elected king'  - The Royalist Revival
6. 'There is magic, goodness and power in his heart'  - The Deification of Rama IX
PART III: THE SECRETS OF THAI SUCCESSION
7. 'Endless struggles for the throne'  - The Causes of Chronic Palace Conflict
8. 'One neither walks, speaks, drinks, eats, nor cooks without some kind of ceremony'  - The Pleasures and Privations of Being King
9. 'I cannot afford to die'  - The Tragedy of King Bhumibol
PART IV: CRISIS AND CONFRONTATION
10. 'Living in horrifying times'  - Twilight of the Oligarchy
11. 'Coupmakers' haunted dreams'  - Escalation and Enlightenment
12. 'Elect good people'  - Denying Democracy, Sabotaging Succession
Epilogue: 'Flip on the lights and flush out the ghosts'  - What the Future Holds
Bibliography