Thread: Giles Ji Ungpakorn: New Book on Thai Crisis

“Thailand’s Crisis and the Fight for Democracy”
Giles Ji Ungpakorn

Chapter 1: Red Shirts vs Yellow Shirts
Chapter 2: The PAD, NGOs and the Peoples’ Movement
Chapter 3: The Crisis for the Monarchy
Chapter 4: Historical changes in Thailand
Chapter 5: The Civil War in the South
Chapter 6: A Personal Note
“Thailand’s Crisis and the Fight for Democracy” is Giles Ji Ungpakorn’s latest work concerning the on-going political crisis that has engulfed Thailand since the coup of 2006. The book analyses the nature of the deep political divisions between the “Red Shirts” and the royalist “Yellow Shirts”, starting from the creation of the Peoples Alliance for Democracy (PAD), through the 2006 coup and up to the end of 2009. It argues against the idea that former Prime Minister Taksin is somehow anti-Monarchy and that this was the root cause of the 2006 coup. In trying to understand the political crisis, it must be seen in its entirety, including elite divisions and disputes, but also the roles of Civil Society activists and the constantly developing social movements which are made up of ordinary people.
The first chapter argues that Taksin’s pro-poor policies and repeated election victories threatened the entrenched interests of the conservative ruling elites, including the military, the civilian bureaucracy and the political establishment. Although Taksin was no socialist and had no plan to build his political party into an activist movement, his overthrow by the military in 2006 sparked the building of a self-organised Red Shirt mass movement. To some extent this movement has moved beyond Taksin’s control, some sections becoming radical and republican.
The second chapter deals with the politics of the Peoples’ Movement and analyses how major sections of this movement, which include the NGOs, came to side with the royalist authoritarians against the majority of the poor and the democratic system as a whole. It questions mainstream democratisation theory and critiques previous views about NGOs in the light of Thai events. This chapter discusses the extreme right-wing PAD movement which closed the international airports in late 2008. There is also a discussion of the labour movement.
The third chapter discusses the difficult issue of the Thai Monarchy. Unlike most academic commentators, Giles Ji Ungpakorn argues that the King is weak and lacking in character. His key role is the ideological justification for elite rule. He symbolises the “legitimacy” of coups and anti-democratic actions, especially those carried out by the military. The 2006 coup and the King’s old age and ill health have resulted in a crisis for the royalists. There is a growing republican movement in Thailand today. The chapter also discusses the lèse majesté law which the elites use against their political opponents.
The fourth chapter gives an historical background to Thai politics from the pre-capitalist era, through the turmoil of the 1930s and 1970s, up to the present day. This historical understanding is important in locating the dynamics of the ruling class and the changing politics of revolt from the time of the Communist Party through to the creation of the NGOs.
The civil war in the Muslim Malay south is discussed in chapter 5. Giles Ji Ungpakorn shows that the fundamental issue is Thai state repression and until this is dealt with politically, there can be no long term peace. Yet mainstream policy in Thailand is still aimed at a military solution.
The final chapter deals with personal political experiences and memories of his father, Dr Puey Ungpakorn. This chapter has the English version of the Red Siam Manifesto, which was issued immediately after leaving Thailand in February 2009. It also contains an appendix with the 8 paragraphs from Giles Ji Ungpakorn’s previous book, A Coup for the Rich, which the Thai police deemed to be lèse majesté.

The analysis in this book is unique and is not covered by mainstream books on Thai politics.

To order a copy: E-mail the author directly at ji.ungpakorn@gmail.com, indicating your country of residence. Alternatively, you can try:
• Amazon U.K.
• Bookmarks U.K. at Bookmarks Bookshop Online
• New Internationalist Bookshop, Melbourne, Australia at New International Bookshop supplying progressive political, left wing and radical books worldwide.
(The New Internationalist Bookshop will stock the book from August 2010)

Markle I don't understand what you mean by the above, can you explain a bit further please?

how sad to be a man w/out a country

u know , just like the other guy , the montenegran

ps ESPECIALLY when that country is THIS one

Originally Posted by markle

...problem with Ji is that he has to try and shoehorn Thailand's political landscape into that rigid Marxist paradigm. Can't seem to escape his father's shadow, either.

agree to a certain extent.

always worth a read, or a listen, though.

But I still don't get what Markle meant. As someone who has studied marxism and read the professor's books I can't help feeling that marxism too often used as a slander, like fascist or communist its banded around to discredit someone who speaks against the status quo, because I see no evidence of it in his writing. Is it the reference to civil society and social movements?

Can anybody else help me understand how an academic calling for a Republic can be equated to marxist doctrine?

Originally Posted by Loxley

As someone who has studied marxism and read the professor's books I can't help feeling that marxism too often used as a slander, like fascist or communist...

it's quick and lazy isn't it. when we think someone holds views opposed to ours we label them something we oppose. absolves us from the responsibility of actually using logic to look at their arguments objectively.

^...example of quick and lazy...

Says the Meister who writes in half sentences and starts soap box conversations with long texts without properly framing the debate.

...no debate here...

...I think MR should buy his book, or pamphlet, or whatever it is...

Originally Posted by Loxley

Says the Meister who writes in half sentences and starts soap box conversations with long texts without properly framing the debate.

oh but his wit is just soooo biting!

Originally Posted by Loxley

marxism too often used as a slander, like fascist or communist its banded around to discredit someone who speaks against the status quo

It's like the "L" bomb in the states. Just because you don't want oil washing up on shore, you're branded a commie liberal by the conservative media.

...substantiation never given, just labels.