A Plastic Nation

Download or read book A Plastic Nation written by Pavin Chachavalpongpun and published by Rlpg/Galleys. This book was released on 2005 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.