A Plastic Nation The Curse of Thainess in

A Plastic Nation examines the role of Thai nationhood in domestic and international politics. This book is intended for students and professors in the field of Thai nationhood and nationalism, as well as contemporary Thai-Burmese relations. It is also intended for policy practitioners in the government and military.

List of Table

vii

Preface

ix

List of Key Characters

xiii

Abbreviations

xv

Chapter One: Introduction

1

(8)

The Construction of Thai Nationhood

1

(5)

Thainess as Hegemony and Power

3

(1)

Power Interests at the Helm

4

(2)

Implications for Thai-Burmese Relations

6

(2)

Notes

8

(1)

Chapter Two: Revisiting Thai Nationhood

9

(20)

Some Thoughts on Nationhood

10

(1)

The Artefact of Thainess

11

(2)

The Realm of Thai Norms

13

(6)

Social Norms

14

(2)

Core Norms

16

(2)

The Normative Context of Thai Politics

18

(1)

International Norms as Otherness

19

(3)

Thainess Versus International Norms

20

(2)

The Heart of Debate

22

(1)

Conclusion

23

(2)

Notes

25

(4)

Chapter Three: The Historical Background

29

(28)

Drawing Historical Timelines

29

(1)

The Invention of Thainess

30

(1)

Backdating Thai Nationhood

31

(4)

The Making of the Burmese Image

33

(2)

The Colonial Period

35

(7)

Transformation into Modernity

36

(1)

Thainess in the Royal Making

37

(3)

The Creation of Otherness

40

(2)

The Modern Period

42

(9)

Phibun and the Nationalist Construction

43

(1)

The Rekindling of Burma's Demonic Image

44

(2)

The Manifestation of Khwampenthai

46

(3)

Towards the Year 1988

49

(2)

Conclusion

51

(1)

Notes

52

(5)

Chapter Four: Ethnic Insurgencies Along Thai-Burmese Borders

57

(36)

The Ethnic Policy of Thailand

58

(3)

The Function of Thainess

59

(2)

Burma's Politics of Ethnicity

61

(4)

Ethnic Reconciliation in Burma

62

(3)

Thailand-Burma-Ethnic Insurgencies: The First Phase (1988-1997)

65

(11)

From Battlefields to Marketplaces

66

(3)

The Role of the Thai Military

69

(2)

The Thai-Burmese Golden Era

71

(5)

Thailand-Burma-Ethnic Insurgencies: The Second Phase (1997-2000)

76

(8)

A Sea-Change in Diplomacy

77

(2)

Demilitarisation of Politics

79

(1)

The Revival of Buffer Policy

79

(2)

The Embassy Seizure and Hospital Hostage Incidents

81

(3)

Conclusion

84

(2)

Notes

86

(7)

Chapter Five: The Drugs Trade

93

(32)

Thainess as Anti-Drugs

94

(2)

Externalisation of Drugs

96

(9)

The Burmese Connection

98

(2)

The Narco-Military Regime

100

(2)

The Drug Kingpins

102

(1)

Internationalisation of the Drugs Trade

103

(2)

Internalisation of Drugs

105

(6)

Utility of Social Norms

105

(1)

The Politics of Privacy

106

(2)

The Emergence of Chao pho

108

(1)

The Infringement of International Norms

109

(2)

The Search for Thai Contestation

111

(3)

Thai Moral Consciousness

112

(2)

List of Alleged Thai Narcotic Traffickers

114

(2)

Conclusion

116

(2)

Notes

118

(7)

Chapter Six: The Controversy over Burma's Admission into ASEAN

125

(32)

Part I: Thai Support for Burma's ASEAN Membership

126

(17)

Burma as a Potential Market

127

(3)

ASEAN as a Thai Expression of Regionalism

130

(10)

The Affinity Between Thainess and ASEAN

131

(4)

Farang as Otherness

135

(1)

Immunity Against International Constraints

135

(3)

The Internal Enemy

138

(1)

Compliance with International Norms

139

(1)

What Are the True Agendas?

140

(3)

Part II: Thai Opposition to Burma's ASEAN Membership

143

(6)

Flexible Engagement Policy

144

(3)

The Dilemma of Tam Kon Farang

147

(1)

Behind Chuan's Power Interests

148

(1)

Conclusion

149

(2)

Notes

151

(6)

Chapter Seven: Conclusion

157

(14)

An Empty Thainess

158

(5)

The Function of Otherness

159

(2)

A Desperate Search for Identity

161

(2)

The Three Case Studies

163

(4)

Ethnic Insurgencies Along Thai-Burmese Borders

163

(2)

The Drugs Trade

165

(1)

The Controversy over Burma's Admission into ASEAN

166

(1)

Epilogue

167

(2)

Notes

169

(2)

Glossary

171

(4)

Bibliography

175

(10)

Index

185

(4)

Author Biography

189

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

A Plastic Nation The Curse of Thainess in Thai-Burmese Relations

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials