Thailand: The Politics of Despotic Paternalism - Paperback

by Thak Chaloemtiarana (Author)

In 1958, Marshal Sarit Thanarat became prime minister of Thailand following a bloodless coup. This book offers a comprehensive study of Sarit's paternalistic, militaristic regime, which laid the foundations for Thailand's support of the US military campaign in Southeast Asia. The analysis documents the ways in which Sarit shaped modern Thai politics, in part by rationalizing a symbiotic relationship between his own office and the Thai monarchy.

Author Biography

Thak Chaloemtiarana is retired from the Department of Asian Studies, and as Director of the Southeast Asia Program in 2010. He retains appointments in the Graduate School in the fields of Asian literature, religion and culture, and Asian Studies. He continues to serve on graduate student committees and teaches the Thailand country seminar with Professor Tamara Loos.