I would like to clarify my previous comment to Jeru. When I insinuate that “Thaksinomics” is a better economic policy than “Juntanomics”, it is akin to observing that contracting herpes is better than gonorrhea in that it burns slightly less when you pee.
Ceteris paribus, Thaksinomics is way too Keynesian for my tastes. Personally, I’m a hardcore Chicago School man.
This brings to mind a classic, Maternity and its Rituals in Bang Chan, by Jane Hanks (Cornell SEAP, 1963). Jane is still around, and will turn 100 this year. There is equally interesting stuff on childbirth, a month of rest, and many other things (death, gender, the recycling of souls — and, fascinatingly, the gender switching of souls from one life to the next) in Patricia Symonds’ Calling in the Soul: Gender and the Cycle of Life in a Hmong Village (U Washington P, 2004). Maybe some of the Buddhist Tai /Thai can learn new things from people in the hills?
Funny, I don’t recall you ever complaining about hunger when you were living under “Thaksinomics”. Perhaps, a businessman, as corrupt as he is, could manage the macroeconomics of a country better than an equally corrupt cabal of dunderheaded aristocrats/generals, most of whom have never worked a day in their lives?
Sorry for the late response. Thanks for the link to the McCargo paper. As it is still in draft form, I will hold back on any criticism of it more substantive than observing that in the beginning of the paper McCargo seems to be firing the first salvo in an academic turf war over the Pattani region. Does the ownership of the current academic discource belong to the field of “area studies” and the like or does it belong to the trans-national “Islamic studies” field and its allied disciplines?
I can understand why the fighting is so intense, for the spoils are so valuable (speaker fees, book deals, tenured positions, department chairs, grants and increased budgets).
However, it is quite a shame that the two factions cannot work together; do you think even if Prof. McCargo, with his profound two and a half years of experience living in Thailand (as his university’s bio-blurb so proudly proclaims), were conversant enough in Southern Thai and Yawi to understand first-hand what was being spoken in the various mas─Бjid and pondok schools of the region, and even if he could accomplish a level of cultural penetration that the denizens of such would feel free to speak openly in the presence of even a sympathetic kafir harbi, he would understand if His Majesty the King was blessed during the prayer before the Friday morning khutab and if not, what that would say about the religious and political leanings of the congregation of that particular mosque?
I doubt it.
re:HRK Just as a p.s.: What Robb defines as “open source warfare” has been described already by Clausewitz.
In his book, Robb acknowledges his debt to both Clausewitz and Col. John Boyd.
Teth I am sure you’ll be able to explain what you meant by “you and your military buddies aren’t aware of the futility of Thai constitutions”, particularly the “futiity” bit.
And if you can also substantiate your last sentence . . . me and my colonel buddies would be surely enlightened and more likely entertained by your inanities.
[…] Anders Poulsen has just published a book on Childbirth in Isan, which promises to be a historical and detailed study of childbirth practices and their survival or disappearance in Isan. Notice over at New Mandala. […]
With regard to Stephen’s comment- What makes KHRG’s views correct as compared to Crisis Group or RI? I see the latter two as neutral vs. KHRG which works closely with the Burmese Karen liberation movement and is allied with the cross-border aid groups.
And while KHRG probably did seek input from local people regarding the aid process, the areas where KHRG works are often the ones where international aid organizations don’t have any access, so the people whose opinion was sought in this matter may not even be receiving international assistance so as to be able to say whether it is good or harmful.
I see no reason to disregard the views of organizations which don’t have a stake here (both Crisis Group and RI are non-operational agencies) in favor of the opinion of KHRG which clearly is a party with interests in this debate.
Land of Snarls: You say THE leader in the pursuit of democracy & the demolition of bullshit. The demolition of bullshit? Thought it would have to be smoothed over – I imagine a Terry Gilliam wall of bullshit kicked by the giant foot. The pursuit of democracy? The international precedent for Britain and democracy has been only a hubris for you and me to swallow. Much like human rights, much like anything attached to the word ‘liberal’ – it doesn’t exist as an example for other peoples from elsewhere, because how many other cultures adopt empiricism as a basis for societal structure?
The British as a collective, are animals and so are you and I, but university educated, the ‘enlightened’, those who are ‘civil’ have had to be in such denial about their animal; that the animal is something to be repressed which leads to playing the poker face only to reveal themselves ‘correct’ and most righteous at the end of any argument about what it is to be civil — makes enlightened civility the most loathsome culture found in all animals. This faux, idolatrous humility gives the sucker punch of correctness. Of course, British civil and common law and indeed the crux of liberalism (rights) is based in of a monotheistic god (as Teth reflects – Britons like to repel these laws, but the birth of British law cannot deny it’s roots, much the same as I cannot deny that my father is my father even though I might like too), and in much the same way, Thai law is based on a living deity. What counts is that you are in the right social circle if you want to advance yourself. What counts as justice is that one is around people who have had the greasy pole of civility thrust upon them more intensely than someone who has no time for such triviality.
The only true humility is in thinking, local societies whose members are not ashamed of the animal within; being monkey’s that we were before being brainwashed with societal hierarchies. In this space, unjust, arbitrary aggression and social dysfunction is nullified and peace can be present enough for there to be a narrow avenue of progress within a world caught up in the denial of being biological.
“And the end of all our searching shall be to return to the place where we started and know it for the first time.”
Since Siam Paragon is on royal land, it must certainly comply with the sufficiency economy model. That’s for sure. I had a look at the book a few weeks ago and was miffed that the editors claimed that there were “interviews” in the book, when it contained only brief platitudinal statements. Doesn’t the sufficiency economy model prescribe that people should not lie? At least, this would be a good start.
A colleague in Thailand sent me this: I visit new mandala some time, having seen your maay khamm, my personal comment is that normally for a person, the maay khamm they take to the temple to pay respect to the Bodhi, is not big, but for the community one, the maay khamm procession, it should be a big and long, though this (community) tradition is newly invented just four decades ago.
Thank you for these informative and sometimes just downright hilarious (not always intentionally) posts.
It’s true Jonathan did always enjoy Monty Python. It just goes to show that children should be kept from the media until they are 30 and only fed state-regulated information, diluted with a steady stream of anthems from around the world.
I blame Monty Python – I shall draft a letter from my Californian Lawyer immediately and report back after OJ and I have discussed our defense. I mean… attack …
Rest easy now, you all. Now there is a new book by Dennis Grey in praise of the big chief, who was so good as to grant audience to Grey in appreciation of his great work. So you see, you reap a handsome reward for doing something “oh so good”.
Could you give us a link or an address where this “volume” can be found (if it’s style okay to buy such… thing under the Sufficiency Economy Principle) ? 😉
I mean : I would like to go deeper, further into the “platitude” concept (I am myself a kind of a scientist stuying thai “platitude”).
[…] takeover is supposedly popular — a claim made repeatedly after September 2006 that has since been proven false — the window of opportunity will not remain open for long. Its leaders must calculate and […]
The British situation is always so intriguing as the pioneer of constitutional monarchy. I found it funny when someone asked me what it means to be Duke of Edinburgh. Somehow that man is supposed to be the feudal lord of Edinburgh. But yet, he is caricatured, accused by another rather odd man of a conspiracy, and probably has more official responsibilities than prerogatives as he is jetted around the world to shake hands with locals and watch indigenous dances.
Monarchy itself is an odd institution, and LM is a big part of maintaining its facade here in Thailand. It somehow creates the belief that the institution is above reproach. But why? And for what? Much like the pointlessness of having a title such as the Duke of Edinburgh or perhaps the whole pointlessness of modern monarchies itself.
Another interesting aspect of the British situation are the old laws that are still in place but are de facto repealed. Should lese majeste travel that route? Or should it be repealed along with the very institution of monarchy? Because clearly, the law is ridiculous, but so is a monarchy. Except, of course, for the fact that it provides emotional support to many, but then again, the same could be said about lese majeste to the hardline conservative royalists.
About Swift…….I think the whole world is mad, Thailand is no special case. Every country in the world needs a unit of the Bullshit Busters even the so-called “leaders”. But you are right, Britain is miles ahead in the Premier Bullshit Busting League than Thailand.
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Ringbarking a government
I would like to clarify my previous comment to Jeru. When I insinuate that “Thaksinomics” is a better economic policy than “Juntanomics”, it is akin to observing that contracting herpes is better than gonorrhea in that it burns slightly less when you pee.
Ceteris paribus, Thaksinomics is way too Keynesian for my tastes. Personally, I’m a hardcore Chicago School man.
Childbirth in Isan
This brings to mind a classic, Maternity and its Rituals in Bang Chan, by Jane Hanks (Cornell SEAP, 1963). Jane is still around, and will turn 100 this year. There is equally interesting stuff on childbirth, a month of rest, and many other things (death, gender, the recycling of souls — and, fascinatingly, the gender switching of souls from one life to the next) in Patricia Symonds’ Calling in the Soul: Gender and the Cycle of Life in a Hmong Village (U Washington P, 2004). Maybe some of the Buddhist Tai /Thai can learn new things from people in the hills?
Ringbarking a government
re: Jeru
Funny, I don’t recall you ever complaining about hunger when you were living under “Thaksinomics”. Perhaps, a businessman, as corrupt as he is, could manage the macroeconomics of a country better than an equally corrupt cabal of dunderheaded aristocrats/generals, most of whom have never worked a day in their lives?
Just a thought.
An unwinnable war?
re: Srithanonchai
Sorry for the late response. Thanks for the link to the McCargo paper. As it is still in draft form, I will hold back on any criticism of it more substantive than observing that in the beginning of the paper McCargo seems to be firing the first salvo in an academic turf war over the Pattani region. Does the ownership of the current academic discource belong to the field of “area studies” and the like or does it belong to the trans-national “Islamic studies” field and its allied disciplines?
I can understand why the fighting is so intense, for the spoils are so valuable (speaker fees, book deals, tenured positions, department chairs, grants and increased budgets).
However, it is quite a shame that the two factions cannot work together; do you think even if Prof. McCargo, with his profound two and a half years of experience living in Thailand (as his university’s bio-blurb so proudly proclaims), were conversant enough in Southern Thai and Yawi to understand first-hand what was being spoken in the various mas─Бjid and pondok schools of the region, and even if he could accomplish a level of cultural penetration that the denizens of such would feel free to speak openly in the presence of even a sympathetic kafir harbi, he would understand if His Majesty the King was blessed during the prayer before the Friday morning khutab and if not, what that would say about the religious and political leanings of the congregation of that particular mosque?
I doubt it.
re:HRK
Just as a p.s.: What Robb defines as “open source warfare” has been described already by Clausewitz.
In his book, Robb acknowledges his debt to both Clausewitz and Col. John Boyd.
Poverty in Thailand
Poverty decreasing in rural areas? So one may understand why Thaksin is famous in countryside!
;-p
Childbirth in Isan
If you want a brief explanation of confinement by ‘fire (yuu-fai)’ I suggest to read this extract fromas tudy by Anders Poulsen:
http://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/afs/pdf/a473.pdf
🙂
Ringbarking a government
Teth I am sure you’ll be able to explain what you meant by “you and your military buddies aren’t aware of the futility of Thai constitutions”, particularly the “futiity” bit.
And if you can also substantiate your last sentence . . . me and my colonel buddies would be surely enlightened and more likely entertained by your inanities.
Childbirth in Isan
[…] Anders Poulsen has just published a book on Childbirth in Isan, which promises to be a historical and detailed study of childbirth practices and their survival or disappearance in Isan. Notice over at New Mandala. […]
Politics, aid, Burma and “solidarity”
With regard to Stephen’s comment- What makes KHRG’s views correct as compared to Crisis Group or RI? I see the latter two as neutral vs. KHRG which works closely with the Burmese Karen liberation movement and is allied with the cross-border aid groups.
And while KHRG probably did seek input from local people regarding the aid process, the areas where KHRG works are often the ones where international aid organizations don’t have any access, so the people whose opinion was sought in this matter may not even be receiving international assistance so as to be able to say whether it is good or harmful.
I see no reason to disregard the views of organizations which don’t have a stake here (both Crisis Group and RI are non-operational agencies) in favor of the opinion of KHRG which clearly is a party with interests in this debate.
Lèse majesté and the BBC
Land of Snarls: You say THE leader in the pursuit of democracy & the demolition of bullshit. The demolition of bullshit? Thought it would have to be smoothed over – I imagine a Terry Gilliam wall of bullshit kicked by the giant foot. The pursuit of democracy? The international precedent for Britain and democracy has been only a hubris for you and me to swallow. Much like human rights, much like anything attached to the word ‘liberal’ – it doesn’t exist as an example for other peoples from elsewhere, because how many other cultures adopt empiricism as a basis for societal structure?
The British as a collective, are animals and so are you and I, but university educated, the ‘enlightened’, those who are ‘civil’ have had to be in such denial about their animal; that the animal is something to be repressed which leads to playing the poker face only to reveal themselves ‘correct’ and most righteous at the end of any argument about what it is to be civil — makes enlightened civility the most loathsome culture found in all animals. This faux, idolatrous humility gives the sucker punch of correctness. Of course, British civil and common law and indeed the crux of liberalism (rights) is based in of a monotheistic god (as Teth reflects – Britons like to repel these laws, but the birth of British law cannot deny it’s roots, much the same as I cannot deny that my father is my father even though I might like too), and in much the same way, Thai law is based on a living deity. What counts is that you are in the right social circle if you want to advance yourself. What counts as justice is that one is around people who have had the greasy pole of civility thrust upon them more intensely than someone who has no time for such triviality.
The only true humility is in thinking, local societies whose members are not ashamed of the animal within; being monkey’s that we were before being brainwashed with societal hierarchies. In this space, unjust, arbitrary aggression and social dysfunction is nullified and peace can be present enough for there to be a narrow avenue of progress within a world caught up in the denial of being biological.
“And the end of all our searching shall be to return to the place where we started and know it for the first time.”
Business professionals prostrating
Since Siam Paragon is on royal land, it must certainly comply with the sufficiency economy model. That’s for sure. I had a look at the book a few weeks ago and was miffed that the editors claimed that there were “interviews” in the book, when it contained only brief platitudinal statements. Doesn’t the sufficiency economy model prescribe that people should not lie? At least, this would be a good start.
Making merit
A colleague in Thailand sent me this: I visit new mandala some time, having seen your maay khamm, my personal comment is that normally for a person, the maay khamm they take to the temple to pay respect to the Bodhi, is not big, but for the community one, the maay khamm procession, it should be a big and long, though this (community) tradition is newly invented just four decades ago.
Corruption versus democracy?
Would anyone who attended this event like to provide a brief report for NM?
Business professionals prostrating
ThaiCrisis,
I picked up a copy in Bangkok last week, at the Asia Books at Siam Paragon (the pinnacle of “sufficiency”, no?).
It was going for something like 1000 baht for a very glossy, hard-cover version.
Happy hunting,
Nicholas
Lèse majesté and the BBC
Thank you for these informative and sometimes just downright hilarious (not always intentionally) posts.
It’s true Jonathan did always enjoy Monty Python. It just goes to show that children should be kept from the media until they are 30 and only fed state-regulated information, diluted with a steady stream of anthems from around the world.
I blame Monty Python – I shall draft a letter from my Californian Lawyer immediately and report back after OJ and I have discussed our defense. I mean… attack …
Lèse majesté and the BBC
Rest easy now, you all. Now there is a new book by Dennis Grey in praise of the big chief, who was so good as to grant audience to Grey in appreciation of his great work. So you see, you reap a handsome reward for doing something “oh so good”.
Business professionals prostrating
Could you give us a link or an address where this “volume” can be found (if it’s style okay to buy such… thing under the Sufficiency Economy Principle) ? 😉
I mean : I would like to go deeper, further into the “platitude” concept (I am myself a kind of a scientist stuying thai “platitude”).
I believe this book can really help me !!!
14.7 out of 45. An endorsement for the junta?
[…] takeover is supposedly popular — a claim made repeatedly after September 2006 that has since been proven false — the window of opportunity will not remain open for long. Its leaders must calculate and […]
Ringbarking a government
Jeru, somehow I don’t think that piece of paper has much effect.
I’m surprised you and your military buddies aren’t aware of the futility of Thai constitutions.
And I thought you’ve plundered enough from the national coffers to feed your family through the ever turbulent international commodities markets.
Lèse majesté and the BBC
The British situation is always so intriguing as the pioneer of constitutional monarchy. I found it funny when someone asked me what it means to be Duke of Edinburgh. Somehow that man is supposed to be the feudal lord of Edinburgh. But yet, he is caricatured, accused by another rather odd man of a conspiracy, and probably has more official responsibilities than prerogatives as he is jetted around the world to shake hands with locals and watch indigenous dances.
Monarchy itself is an odd institution, and LM is a big part of maintaining its facade here in Thailand. It somehow creates the belief that the institution is above reproach. But why? And for what? Much like the pointlessness of having a title such as the Duke of Edinburgh or perhaps the whole pointlessness of modern monarchies itself.
Another interesting aspect of the British situation are the old laws that are still in place but are de facto repealed. Should lese majeste travel that route? Or should it be repealed along with the very institution of monarchy? Because clearly, the law is ridiculous, but so is a monarchy. Except, of course, for the fact that it provides emotional support to many, but then again, the same could be said about lese majeste to the hardline conservative royalists.
About Swift…….I think the whole world is mad, Thailand is no special case. Every country in the world needs a unit of the Bullshit Busters even the so-called “leaders”. But you are right, Britain is miles ahead in the Premier Bullshit Busting League than Thailand.