‘at least he chose to stay in Thailand to face the music’. Only until and if it’s imminent he’s heading to the big house. Then you can be sure, China here I come.
Thanks, Elvin, for introducing some ‘institutionalist theory’ into the discussion of consitituional change in the region.
Another aspect of the ‘evolutionary’ theory of institutional change, as presented by scholars like Kathleen Thelen, is the high degree of continuity observed during episodes of insitutional change as well as the ongoing and cumulative processes of change that take place during periods of relative stability. It’s important to situate constitutions within an institutional context that is itself subject to processes of both graduate and dramaitic change. That broader institutional context limits the extent to which a formal constitution can generate a static equalibrium and at the same time mitigates the transformative ‘shock’ of constitutional change. These theoretical considerations can help us understand, for example, the resilient patterns of politics in Thailand despite the repeated adoption of new constitutions. In the case of Burma, this ‘path dependency’ perspective might temper optimism for radical transformation, but might also suggest hope for continued processes of gradual change in spite of a deeply flawed constitution.
This External Shock theory sound awful like litner The Sky is Falling any minute now/infightings among the generals that the west espouse to start the ongoing useless catreless policy.
@#1
“External Shock” Hmmm,
As if the 30 year of useless careless policy, name calling, denigration constant threats by the the west, all still ongoing, albeit with the flimsiest of the veil of ‘engagement’ approach this time, can not be considered as “The External Shock”.
Brazil, The Phillipines and Indonesia NEVER enjoy the benefit of The West assault just as Myanmar, Cuba and N. Kaorea exclusively did enjoy, neither Castro nor Kim came out unscath, but SG Than Shwe trimuph and the West best hope is that he might died laughing his head off !
China and Brazil grew economicallly out of their respective Miliatry domination.
The military was presented with offeres they can not refuse to divest from economic to be come professional/return to the barracks.
The External Shock of all shock has already comE and gone multiple times.
As evidence of triumphs:
1) Agaisnt all odds move the capital from Yangon to Naypyidaw. Presenting the west with a Myriad of NO WIN situations.
2) Survived the potential calamitous results of “Nargis” with minimal of minimal support.
3) Bringing N. Korea as friend into the equation to be reckon with despite China unswerving protection from The west through UN.
4) Invented the well deserved maligned “THe Seven Steps to DIscipline democracy” that presently driving this debate on the potential, validity and dignity of this present constitution.
As long as the unique situation of Myanmar is not addressed from a Historical perspective, the west and DASSK will be the stooges that the generals play skillfully while the humanity within approach ever closer to the N. Korean citizenry status.
I agree with the assessment made above. Sondhi used to be the useful idiot, but now that he has outlived his usefulness and even threatens to embarrass some of the puppet players he will be dumped at the scrapyard of history.
There’s a UK comedy sketch (I think from “The League of Gentlemen”) where a young whizz kid enthusiastically describes to his elderly aunt his latest high powered hedge fund money making scheme in the City. After listening patiently and politely to her nephew’s rant she says: “That’s lovely, dear…but how does it help?”
“How does it help?” is a touchstone question which should be asked far more often of many initiatives. If it is asked of the Namewee video the answer should probably be “Not very much.”
Could swindlers be pardoned? Sondhi L. had been sentenced for financial fraud. That means game over. Sondhi L. said so publicly that he’s guilty as charged and at the mercy of the Thai courts (at least he chose to stay in Thailand to face the music.)
Good ending to the Sondhi L. saga that hopefully would severely defang PAD.
The US Constitution is probably the most famous and touted, yet US governments have over the years found ways to flaunt or simply ignore it – Federal Reserve, Patriot Act, not declaring wars via Congress etc. Really makes you wonder what good a constitution is when the intentions of the authors are flouted by the corrupt and monied.
I would like to point out that if the project is cancelled, Lynas will not become the Worlds first in over a decade. And it will serve to be a guarantee that never in future any Rare Earth oxides will be produced in Malaysia.
Malaysia will rediculed for its decision and may never see a $(or RM) ever again from OS investors.
Is this the bright future Malaysia wants to establish through this campagne?
Assuming the Malaysian Government is corrupt. Hence the speedy unquestioned, unsolicited approvals may sure apply.
However the people that had given the “OK” to Lynas were not only Malaysian Politicians and figure heads.
Malaysia has seen the malpractices of Asian Rare Earths, to which IAEA were called to assess.
IAEA were also called into assess LAMP as well and was given the “OK”
You would have to question, would IAEA to guarantee the safety of LAMP if it were unsafe?
Given that Lynas has submitted all requirements and having these approved by not only (corrupt) Malaysian officials but by the International regulatory body should not be discounted.
Or undoubtably assume IAEA are also corrupt.
The STOP LYNAS campagne is political propaganda aimed at the running government, inciting racism and hatred toward Australians.
If anything needs to be stopped it should be this movement.
As an Australian who has been living and working in Asian countries for nearly 20 years (the last 12 in Thailand with my Thai wife of 18 years) I am pleased to see this very important subject is starting to attract media attention again – at last.
In politics with Rudd now having been replaced by Bob Carr – another politician with strong (personal) connections and a strong appreciation of this region, let us hope the Gillard government can stay around long enough for Carr to get programs into place which focus seriously on this issue.
The diverse mix of people and cultures in Australia today, provide the country with many opportunities to make significant contributions to the Asian region and provide a bridge to our other major trading and cultural partners such as the US and Britain.
Can we do it ?
I inadvertently left out my cousin Canadians, who are a very important contingent among the dedicated ex-pats living long term in Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia. My apologies!
Perhaps this lack of interest in Asia by Australians beyond tourism explains why there appear to be few Australians who stay in Thailand long term. All of my Australian friends who came here to teach at the university level (with one exception, someone who has a college-aged Thai-Australian daughter and intends to stay permanently) have returned to live in Australia. On the other hand, many more Brits, Americans, Europeans of Germanic, Dutch and Scandinavian origin, and even South Africans have settled in for the long term. Could it be that life in Australia is still too attractive an alternative to keep them “down on the farm”, while the discouraging economic and employment conditions on other continents have made Asia, and South East Asia in particular, more appealing? I would be curious about any thoughts by Australians on this matter.
One more thing, for those who are interested, is that Somsak Jeamteerasakul has also commented on some of the cables I discuss in part 4. You can view his comments here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=307502352636384
Part 4 is about 80 percent complete. Part 5 will be mercifully shorter.
I’ve changed the initial description of my article to a “response” rather than “review” of KBAALW. I’d hoped that it would be clear from the text that it was always intended to be rather more than a review, but some people found that hard to grasp.
What I am trying to do is write a detailed counter-narrative to be read alongside KBAALW for those wishing to know the real story. Given the recent worrying news that KBAALW will be translated into Thai (the article is here http://www.nationmultimedia.com/life/Top-of-the-bestseller-list-30176988.html) I also plan to have a Thai translation of my own piece ready before the Thai KBAALW hits the shelves.
Thanks for continuing to keep an eye on my website, and best wishes.
I see Part IV of Andrew Marshall’s ‘The Tragedy of King Bhumibol’ is out. It’s long – about 80 printed pages in 10-point type including illustrations! Clearly Andrew has gone way beyond his original intention of critiquing ‘A Life’s Work’.
Here’s the link: http://www.zenjournalist.com/2012/03/the-tragedy-of-king-bhumibol-iv/#more-18749
The most recent development was that Dr. Worajait was attacked by a man in the parking lot of the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University. Let all who are fair -minded join in cheering up Dr. Worajait and wish him all measures of courage.
I wonder about the constitutional evolution of Laos, where for sixteen years (1975-1991), there were not even ‘words on a piece of paper’. I suppose the large ‘external shock’ that led to the formulation of a constitution was the collapse of the USSR. I wonder what sort of exogenous shock would be required to alter things now.
Thanks for this piece, it will be good to come back to.
Sondhi will never go to prison. Neither did Samak, waiting the appeal of his defamation comnviction.
Perhaps you might like to ask about IEC and the money it borrowed from SK Telecom and strangely how it was re-lent to The M Group against the security of only PNs, and which was not repaid. This would of course be quite irrelevant.
Forget the law- money and power rules in the Land of Smile (sic)and always will!
I think you have fingered the key issue. Its trust.
Malaysians do not trust their government any more.
Malaysians do not trust their institutions and the workings of the government.
From the point of view of many Malaysians, this project was rushed. The Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) had raised objections. A New York Times article noted that one of the main contractors withdrew from the project because of safety concerns.
The government fast-tracked this project, despite significant public protest with state government shifting blame, and regulators giving mixed signals.
The Malaysian government responded by requesting the IAEA to conduct a review of the Lynas project and concluded:
The review team was not able to identify any non-compliance with international radiation safety standards. However, the review team identified 10 issues for which it considered that improvements were necessary before the next licensing phases of the Lynasa project..
It was too late. Despite the fact that an internationally recognised body gave an assurance that the project is safe, pending some remedial actions, many Malaysians just don’t trust anything the government says.
What is astonishing to me is why the government remains committed to this project, despite the widespread protest and the likelihood that this will become a major election issue.
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Sondhi Limthongkul going to gaol?
‘at least he chose to stay in Thailand to face the music’. Only until and if it’s imminent he’s heading to the big house. Then you can be sure, China here I come.
Just words on a piece of paper?
Thanks, Elvin, for introducing some ‘institutionalist theory’ into the discussion of consitituional change in the region.
Another aspect of the ‘evolutionary’ theory of institutional change, as presented by scholars like Kathleen Thelen, is the high degree of continuity observed during episodes of insitutional change as well as the ongoing and cumulative processes of change that take place during periods of relative stability. It’s important to situate constitutions within an institutional context that is itself subject to processes of both graduate and dramaitic change. That broader institutional context limits the extent to which a formal constitution can generate a static equalibrium and at the same time mitigates the transformative ‘shock’ of constitutional change. These theoretical considerations can help us understand, for example, the resilient patterns of politics in Thailand despite the repeated adoption of new constitutions. In the case of Burma, this ‘path dependency’ perspective might temper optimism for radical transformation, but might also suggest hope for continued processes of gradual change in spite of a deeply flawed constitution.
Just words on a piece of paper?
This External Shock theory sound awful like litner The Sky is Falling any minute now/infightings among the generals that the west espouse to start the ongoing useless catreless policy.
@#1
“External Shock” Hmmm,
As if the 30 year of useless careless policy, name calling, denigration constant threats by the the west, all still ongoing, albeit with the flimsiest of the veil of ‘engagement’ approach this time, can not be considered as “The External Shock”.
Brazil, The Phillipines and Indonesia NEVER enjoy the benefit of The West assault just as Myanmar, Cuba and N. Kaorea exclusively did enjoy, neither Castro nor Kim came out unscath, but SG Than Shwe trimuph and the West best hope is that he might died laughing his head off !
China and Brazil grew economicallly out of their respective Miliatry domination.
The military was presented with offeres they can not refuse to divest from economic to be come professional/return to the barracks.
The External Shock of all shock has already comE and gone multiple times.
As evidence of triumphs:
1) Agaisnt all odds move the capital from Yangon to Naypyidaw. Presenting the west with a Myriad of NO WIN situations.
2) Survived the potential calamitous results of “Nargis” with minimal of minimal support.
3) Bringing N. Korea as friend into the equation to be reckon with despite China unswerving protection from The west through UN.
4) Invented the well deserved maligned “THe Seven Steps to DIscipline democracy” that presently driving this debate on the potential, validity and dignity of this present constitution.
As long as the unique situation of Myanmar is not addressed from a Historical perspective, the west and DASSK will be the stooges that the generals play skillfully while the humanity within approach ever closer to the N. Korean citizenry status.
Sondhi Limthongkul going to gaol?
I agree with the assessment made above. Sondhi used to be the useful idiot, but now that he has outlived his usefulness and even threatens to embarrass some of the puppet players he will be dumped at the scrapyard of history.
Very good die to die
It looks like this Lynas project could get very ugly.
http://en.rsf.org/malaisie-two-journalists-set-upon-during-02-03-2012,41978.html
There’s a UK comedy sketch (I think from “The League of Gentlemen”) where a young whizz kid enthusiastically describes to his elderly aunt his latest high powered hedge fund money making scheme in the City. After listening patiently and politely to her nephew’s rant she says: “That’s lovely, dear…but how does it help?”
“How does it help?” is a touchstone question which should be asked far more often of many initiatives. If it is asked of the Namewee video the answer should probably be “Not very much.”
Sondhi Limthongkul going to gaol?
Could swindlers be pardoned? Sondhi L. had been sentenced for financial fraud. That means game over. Sondhi L. said so publicly that he’s guilty as charged and at the mercy of the Thai courts (at least he chose to stay in Thailand to face the music.)
Good ending to the Sondhi L. saga that hopefully would severely defang PAD.
Just words on a piece of paper?
The US Constitution is probably the most famous and touted, yet US governments have over the years found ways to flaunt or simply ignore it – Federal Reserve, Patriot Act, not declaring wars via Congress etc. Really makes you wonder what good a constitution is when the intentions of the authors are flouted by the corrupt and monied.
Lynas – with love from Perth!
I would like to point out that if the project is cancelled, Lynas will not become the Worlds first in over a decade. And it will serve to be a guarantee that never in future any Rare Earth oxides will be produced in Malaysia.
Malaysia will rediculed for its decision and may never see a $(or RM) ever again from OS investors.
Is this the bright future Malaysia wants to establish through this campagne?
Assuming the Malaysian Government is corrupt. Hence the speedy unquestioned, unsolicited approvals may sure apply.
However the people that had given the “OK” to Lynas were not only Malaysian Politicians and figure heads.
Malaysia has seen the malpractices of Asian Rare Earths, to which IAEA were called to assess.
IAEA were also called into assess LAMP as well and was given the “OK”
You would have to question, would IAEA to guarantee the safety of LAMP if it were unsafe?
Given that Lynas has submitted all requirements and having these approved by not only (corrupt) Malaysian officials but by the International regulatory body should not be discounted.
Or undoubtably assume IAEA are also corrupt.
The STOP LYNAS campagne is political propaganda aimed at the running government, inciting racism and hatred toward Australians.
If anything needs to be stopped it should be this movement.
Asia literacy for Australia
As an Australian who has been living and working in Asian countries for nearly 20 years (the last 12 in Thailand with my Thai wife of 18 years) I am pleased to see this very important subject is starting to attract media attention again – at last.
In politics with Rudd now having been replaced by Bob Carr – another politician with strong (personal) connections and a strong appreciation of this region, let us hope the Gillard government can stay around long enough for Carr to get programs into place which focus seriously on this issue.
The diverse mix of people and cultures in Australia today, provide the country with many opportunities to make significant contributions to the Asian region and provide a bridge to our other major trading and cultural partners such as the US and Britain.
Can we do it ?
Asia literacy for Australia
I inadvertently left out my cousin Canadians, who are a very important contingent among the dedicated ex-pats living long term in Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia. My apologies!
Asia literacy for Australia
Perhaps this lack of interest in Asia by Australians beyond tourism explains why there appear to be few Australians who stay in Thailand long term. All of my Australian friends who came here to teach at the university level (with one exception, someone who has a college-aged Thai-Australian daughter and intends to stay permanently) have returned to live in Australia. On the other hand, many more Brits, Americans, Europeans of Germanic, Dutch and Scandinavian origin, and even South Africans have settled in for the long term. Could it be that life in Australia is still too attractive an alternative to keep them “down on the farm”, while the discouraging economic and employment conditions on other continents have made Asia, and South East Asia in particular, more appealing? I would be curious about any thoughts by Australians on this matter.
Review of A Life’s Work
One more thing, for those who are interested, is that Somsak Jeamteerasakul has also commented on some of the cables I discuss in part 4. You can view his comments here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=307502352636384
Review of A Life’s Work
Stuart #123
Part 4 is about 80 percent complete. Part 5 will be mercifully shorter.
I’ve changed the initial description of my article to a “response” rather than “review” of KBAALW. I’d hoped that it would be clear from the text that it was always intended to be rather more than a review, but some people found that hard to grasp.
What I am trying to do is write a detailed counter-narrative to be read alongside KBAALW for those wishing to know the real story. Given the recent worrying news that KBAALW will be translated into Thai (the article is here http://www.nationmultimedia.com/life/Top-of-the-bestseller-list-30176988.html) I also plan to have a Thai translation of my own piece ready before the Thai KBAALW hits the shelves.
Thanks for continuing to keep an eye on my website, and best wishes.
Review of A Life’s Work
I see Part IV of Andrew Marshall’s ‘The Tragedy of King Bhumibol’ is out. It’s long – about 80 printed pages in 10-point type including illustrations! Clearly Andrew has gone way beyond his original intention of critiquing ‘A Life’s Work’.
Here’s the link: http://www.zenjournalist.com/2012/03/the-tragedy-of-king-bhumibol-iv/#more-18749
Pushing Nitirat to the edge
The most recent development was that Dr. Worajait was attacked by a man in the parking lot of the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University. Let all who are fair -minded join in cheering up Dr. Worajait and wish him all measures of courage.
Just words on a piece of paper?
I wonder about the constitutional evolution of Laos, where for sixteen years (1975-1991), there were not even ‘words on a piece of paper’. I suppose the large ‘external shock’ that led to the formulation of a constitution was the collapse of the USSR. I wonder what sort of exogenous shock would be required to alter things now.
Thanks for this piece, it will be good to come back to.
Sondhi Limthongkul going to gaol?
Sondhi will never go to prison. Neither did Samak, waiting the appeal of his defamation comnviction.
Perhaps you might like to ask about IEC and the money it borrowed from SK Telecom and strangely how it was re-lent to The M Group against the security of only PNs, and which was not repaid. This would of course be quite irrelevant.
Forget the law- money and power rules in the Land of Smile (sic)and always will!
Sondhi Limthongkul going to gaol?
Nich, can you open a book on this. My bet is odds on he won’t do real time.
Sondhi Limthongkul going to gaol?
I’m still curious about who shot him.
Any theories?
Very good die to die
@ James Bailey #3
I think you have fingered the key issue. Its trust.
Malaysians do not trust their government any more.
Malaysians do not trust their institutions and the workings of the government.
From the point of view of many Malaysians, this project was rushed. The Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) had raised objections. A New York Times article noted that one of the main contractors withdrew from the project because of safety concerns.
The government fast-tracked this project, despite significant public protest with state government shifting blame, and regulators giving mixed signals.
The Malaysian government responded by requesting the IAEA to conduct a review of the Lynas project and concluded:
It was too late. Despite the fact that an internationally recognised body gave an assurance that the project is safe, pending some remedial actions, many Malaysians just don’t trust anything the government says.
What is astonishing to me is why the government remains committed to this project, despite the widespread protest and the likelihood that this will become a major election issue.
How bizarre?