Thursday
Office hours: T
dunger@niu.edu 753 7042 Professor Unger
This course’s intensive study of Thai politics aims at
giving students a deep familiarity with the English language literature on the
subject. The readings cover the issues
necessary to understand politics in
Note: Students taking the candidacy exam in comparative politics will be responsible for all the readings listed on this syllabus under the headings supplementary and required. Please also note the questions listed at the end of this syllabus. These questions are representative of the kinds of questions students will be expected to be able to answer when taking the candidacy exam.
Required texts:
Paul Handley, The King Never Smiles
For a useful bibliography of sources on
The required readings for the course average less than 120 pages a week (with readings marked “skim” discounted at 25%.) Few of the readings are highly abstract so students should find the load manageable. The load is quite uniform, but heavier in early and lighter in late April. Assigned readings not from the two required texts are mostly available online from the library. A few readings, however, will be available only in print at the library reserves desk.
Requirements:
-two class presentations of readings, 10% each 20%
-final exam (short answer questions and one long essay) 35%
-command of readings as reflected in class contributions 20%
-20-page papers (due April 25) 25%
prepare for presentation at International Thai Studies Conference, Council on Thai Studies, NIU Southeast Asian Studies Student Conference, or professional conferences such as Association of Asian Studies, American Political Science Association, International Studies Association
August 28, Introduction to course themes and assignments (guest Professor)
September 4, Elements of traditional Thai polities, I
Required readings:
-Baker and Pasuk, A History, pp.47-139
Suggested readings:
-Kamol Somvichian, “The Thai Political Culture and Political Development,” in Clark Neher, ed., Modern Thai Politics, revised edition (Cambridge, Mass.: Schenkman Publishing Company, 1979) pp.153-69
-
Supplemental readings:
-David Morell and Chai-anan, Political Conflict in Thailand, pp.7-73
-David Wilson, Politics in Thailand, pp.1-9
-Tamara Loos, Subject
-Scot Barme, Woman, Man,
-Jane Bunnag, “Loose Structure: Fact or Fancy?” in Clark Neher, ed., Modern Thai Politics, revised edition (Schenkman Publishing Company, 1979) pp.133-52
September 11, Elements of traditional Thai polities, II
Required readings:
-Lucien M. Hanks, “Merit and Power in the Thai Social Order,” in Clark Neher, ed., Modern Thai Politics, revised edition (Schenkman Publishing Company, 1979) pp.95-113
-Neil A. Englehart, Culture and Power in Traditional Siamese Government (Cornell SEAP, 2001) pp.19-53
-Kevin Hewison, “Introduction” in Hewison, ed., Political Change, pp.1-20
Suggested readings:
-Joseph J. Wright, Jr., The Balancing Act, A History of Modern Thailand (Asia Books, 1991) pp.17-32, 59-104, 184-96
-Hans-Dieter Bechstedt, “Identity
and authority in
-Philip Hirsch, “What is the Thai village?,” in Craig J.
Reynolds, National Identity and its
Defenders,
-Akin Rabibhadena, “The
organization of Thai society in the early
-J.L. Taylor, “Embodiment, Nation,
and Religio-Politics in
September 18, Local and rural politics in
Required readings:
-Ockey, Making Democracy, pp.81-100
-Neil A. Englehart, Culture and Power in Traditional Siamese Government (Cornell SEAP, 2001) pp.55-82
-Daniel Arghiros, “Political Reform
and Civil Society at the Local Level:
-Benedict Anderson, “Murder and Progress in Modern Siam,” New Left Review, 81:2, 1990, pp.33-48
Suggested readings:
-Sulak Sivaraksa, “The crisis of
Siamese identity,” in Craig J. Reynolds, National
Identity and its Defenders,
-Charles Keyes, “Local Leadership in Rural Thailand,” in Clark Neher, ed., Modern Thai Politics, revised edition (Schenkman Publishing Company, 1979) pp.197-228
-Bruce Missingham, “Local bureaucrats, power and participation: A study of two village schools in the Northeast,”in Kevin Hewison, ed., Political Change in Thailand (Routledge, 1997) pp.149-62
-Moshe Yegar, Between Integration and Secession, The Muslim Communities of the
Southern Philippines, Southern Thailand, and Western Burma/Myanmar (
Supplemental readings:
-Nishizaki Yoshinori,
“Provincializing Thai Politics,”
-Phil Robertson, Jr. “The Rise of the Rural Network Politician,” Asian Survey, 1996, pp.924-41
-Kevin Hewison, “Responding to Economic
Crisis:
-Pasuk and Baker, Thailand Economy and Politics, pp.323-66
-James Ockey, “The Rise of Local
Power in
September 25, The military and civilian bureaucracy
Required readings:
-William J. Siffin, “The Essential Character of the Contemporary Bureaucracy,” in Clark Neher, ed., Modern Thai Politics, revised edition (Schenkman Publishing Company, 1979) pp.337-55
-David A.Wilson, “Political
tradition and Political Change in
-Fred Riggs, “The bureaucratic polity as a working system,” in Clark Neher, ed., Modern Thai Politics, revised edition (Schenkman Publishing Company, 1979) pp.356-74
-Danny Unger, “Principals of the Thai State,” in Ben Ross Schneider and Blanca Heredia, eds., Reinventing Leviathan, The Politics of Administrative Reform in Developing Countries (North-South Center Press, 2003) pp.181-210
-James Ockey, “
Suggested readings:
-Chai-anan Samudavanija, “The Bureaucracy,” pp.75-109
-Benedict R. O’Gorman
-James C. Scott, “Corruption in
-Suchit Bunbongkarn, The Military in Thai Politics, 1981-86 (ISEAS, 1987) pp.9-76
-Yoshihara Kunio, The Nation and Economic Growth, the
-Marian Mallet, “Causes and Consequences of the October ’76 Coup,” Journal of Contemporary Southeast Asia, 1978, pp.80-103
-Mark Turner, “Choosing Items from
the Menu, New Public Management in
-Barbara Nunberg, “Civil Service Quality after the Crisis: A View of Five Asian Cases,” Asian Journal of Political Science, 10:2, 2002, pp.1-20
-Bidhya Bowornwathana, “
-Takashi Shiraishi, “The Military
in Politics, Politics in the Military:
-David K. Wyatt, “The Military Ascendant, 1932-1957,” pp.243-75
-Suchit Bunbongkarn, “Decline of the Military,” pp.46-69
Supplemental readings:
- Chai-Anan Samudavanija, “Old soldiers never die, they are just bypassed: The military, bureaucracy, and globalisation,” in Kevin Hewison, ed., Political Change in Thailand (Routledge, 1997) pp.42-57
October 2, The economy in growth and in crisis
Required readings:
-Richard Doner and Ansil Ramsay,
“Competitive Clientelism and Economic Growth: The Case of
-Danny Unger, Building Social Capital in Thailand (
-Danny Unger, “
-Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker, “Thaksin’s Populism,” Journal of Contemporary Asia, 38:1, February 2008, pp.62-83
-Ruth McVey, “The Materialization of the SE Asian Entrepreneur,” in McVey, ed. SEAsian Captialists pp.7-33
-Sakkarin Niyomsilpa, “Industry globalized: The automotive sector,” in Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker, eds. Thai Capital After the 1997 Crisis (Silkworm Books, 2008) 61-84
Suggested readings:
- Pasuk and
-Chris Dixon, “The Causes of Thai Economic Crisis: The Internal Perspective,” Geoforum, 32:1, 2001, pp.47-60
-Laurids S. Lauridsen, “Struggling
with Globalization in
-Daniel Arghiros, “The Local
Dynamics of the ‘New Political Economy’: A District Business Association and
Its Role in Electoral Politics,” McVey, ed., Money and Power in Provincial
-Parichart Chotiya, “The changing role of provincial business in the Thai political economy,” in Kevin Hewison, ed., Political Change in Thailand (Routledge, 1997) pp.251-64
-Linda Y.C. Lim and Aaron Stern,
“State Power and Private Profits: Review Essay on the Political Economy of
Corruption in
-Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris
Baker,
-Jasper Goss and David Burch, “From
Agricultural Modernisation to Agri-Food Globalisation: The Waning of National
Development in
-Paul Handley, “More of the same? Politics and business,” in Kevin Hewison, ed., Political Change in Thailand (Routledge, 1997) pp.94-113
-Yoshihara Kunio, The Nation and Economic Growth, the Philippines and Thailand (Oxford, 1994) on the Chinese and foreign capital, and government regulation of the economy, pp.15-21, 32-36, 41-53, 75-88, 117-44, 188-200
-Laurids Lauridsen, Industrial policies, political institutions
and industrial development in
- Laurids Lauridsen, Policies and institutions of industrial deepening and upgrading in
-Laurids
Lauridsen, Policies and institutions of industrial deepening and upgrading in
-Anek Laothamatas, “The Politics of
Structural Adjustment in
-Richard Doner and Anek
Laothamatas, “
-Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker, Thailand’s Crisis (Silkworm, 2000) pp.14-106 (skim)
-Gustav Ranis and Syed Akhtar
Mahmood, The Political Economy of
Development Policy Change (Blackwell, 1992),
-Walter Persaud, “Gender, Race and
Global Modernity: A Perspective from
-Craig Reynolds, “Thai Identity in the Age of Globalization,” pp.308-38
-Olarn Chaipravat, “
-Peter G. Warr and Bhanupong Nidhiprabha, Thailand’s Macroeconomic Miracle (World Bank, 1996) pp.19-28, 228-236
-Pasuk Phongpaichit and Sungsidh Piriyarangsan, Corruption and Democracy in Thailand (Bangkok: Silkworm Books, 1994) pp.1-25, 51-98
-Pasuk Phongpaichit, Sungsidh Piriyarangsan, and Nualnoi Treerat, Guns Girls Gambling Ganja, Thailand’s Illegal Economy and Public Policy (Bangkok: Silkworm Books, 1998) pp.155-214 (skim)
-Scott B. MacDonald, “Transparency
in
-William H. Overholt, “
-Kasian Tejapira, “Post-Crisis
Economic Impasse and Political Recovery in
-Peter Warr, “
-Linda Lim, “Whose ‘Model’ Failed? Implications of the Asian Economic Crisis,” The Washington Quarterly, 21:3, 1998, pp.25-36
-Robert Muscat, The Fifth Tiger, pp.223-91
-Tom Ginsburg, “Does Law Matter for
Economic Development? Evidence from
-Suehiro Akira, Capital Accumulation in
Supplemental:
-Robert J. Muscat, The Fifth Tiger, A Study of Thai Development Policy (M.E. Sharpe, 1994) pp.86-127, 170-222
-Akira Suehiro, “Capitalist Development in Postwar Thailand,” pp.35-63 in McVey
-Andrew MacIntyre, “Institutions
and Investors: The Politics of the Economic Crisis in
-Jamie Mackie, “Business Success Among Southeast Asian Chinese,” in Robert Hefner, ed. Market Cultures, 1998, pp.129-146
October 9, The monarchy, I
Required readings:
-Paul Handley, The King Never Smiles, pp.44-99, 139-237
-Kevin Hewison, “The monarchy and democratization,” in Hewison ed., Political Change in Thailand, pp.58-74
Suggested readings:
-His Majesty King Bhumibol
Adulyadej, Biography of a Pet Dog, The
Story of Tongdaeng (
-Pasuk and Baker, Thailand Economy and Politics, pp.218-43
-Roger Kershaw, Monarchy in
-Kobkua Suwannathat-Pian, Kings, Country, and Constitutions:
-Kullada Kesboonchoo Mead, The Rise and Decline of Thai Absolutism (2003)
-William Stevenson, The Revolutionary King (London: Constable and Co., 1999)
Supplemental readings:
-Kobkua Suwannathat-Pian, “The
Monarchy and Constitutional Change Since 1972,” in Duncan McCargo, ed., Reforming Thai Politics (
-James Ockey,
“Monarch, monarchy, succession and stability in
October 16, The monarchy, II
Required readings:
-Paul Handley, The King Never Smiles, pp.276-98, 328-93
-Duncan McCargo, “Network monarchy and legitimacy crises,” The Pacific Review, 18:4, 2005, pp.499-519
Required readings:
-Ockey, Making Democracy, pp.151-71
-Andrew Brown, “Locating working-class power,” in Kevin Hewison, ed., Political Change in Thailand (Routledge, 1997) pp.163-78
-Philip Hirsch, “The politics of environment: Opposition and legitimacy,” in -Kevin Hewison, ed., Political Change in Thailand (Routledge, 1997) pp.179-94
-John Girling, Interpreting Development, pp.43-76
-James Ockey, “Civil Society and
Street Politics: Lessons from the 1950s,” in Duncan McCargo, ed., Reforming Thai Politics (
Suggested readings:
-Sinith Sittirak, The Daughters of Development (Zed Books, 1998) pp.21-75
political roles,” in Kevin Hewison, ed., Political Change in Thailand (Routledge, -Peter A. Jackson, “Withering center, flourishing margins: Buddhism’s changing 1997) pp.75-93
-Atsushi Kitahara, The Thai Rural Community Reconsidered, Historical Community Formation and Contemporary Development Movements (The Political Economy Centre, Chulalongkorn University, 1996)
-J.L. Taylor, “Embodiment, nation,
and religio-politics in
-Somchai Phatharathanaunth, “Civil
Society and Democratization in
-Naruemon Thabchumpon, “NGOs and
Grassroots Participation in the Political Reform Process,” in Duncan McCargo,
ed., Reforming Thai Politics (
-Pasuk and Baker, “Power in transition,” in Hewison, ed., Political Change, pp.21-41
-Stephen B. Young and Surin
Pitsuwan, “Democracy and Traditional Political Culture in
-Michael Nelson, “
-Ukrist Pathmanand, “Globalization
and Democratic Development in
-Chai-anan Samudavanija, “State-Identity
Creation, State-Building and Civil Society,” in Craig J. Reynolds, National Identity and its Defenders,
-Walden Bello, Shea Cunningham, Li Kheng Poh, A Siamese Tragedy (White Lotus, 1998) pp.1-9, 175-205
Supplementary readings:
- Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris
Baker,
-William H. Overholt, “
-James P. LoGerfo, “Beyond
Required readings:
-Ockey, Making Democracy, pp.124-50
-Thitinan Pongsudhirak, “
-Johannes Dragsbaek Schmidt,
“Democratization and Social Welfare in
-Philippe Doneys, “Political Reform
through the Public Sphere: Women’s Groups and the Fabric of Governance,” in
Duncan McCargo, ed., Reforming Thai
Politics (
-James Ockey, “Thai Society and Patterns of Political Leadership,” Asian Survey, 1996, pp.345-59
Suggested readings:
-Duncan McCargo, Politics and the Press in Thailand (Garuda Press, 2000) pp.1-42
-Rosalind C. Morris, “Failures of
Domestication: Speculations on Globality, Economy, and the Sex of Excess in
-Annette Hamilton, “Rumours, Foul
Calumnies and the Safety of the State,” in Craig J. Reynolds, National Identity and its Defenders,
-
-Ubonrat Siriyuvasak, “Regulation,
Reform and the Question of Democratising the Broadcast Media in
-Chaiwat Satha-Anand, “Defending Community, Strengthening Civil Society,” pp.91-103
-Duncan McCargo, “Southern Thai
Politics: A Preliminary Overview,” POLIS Working Paper No.3, February 2004,
-Duncan McCargo, “Security,
development and political participation in
-Philip Hirsch, ed. Seeing
Forests for Trees, Environment and Environmentalism in
Supplementary readings:
-James Ockey, Making Democracy, pp.56-80, 101-23
-Duncan McCargo, “Populism and
reformism in contemporary
-Benedict Anderson, “Murder and Progress in Modern Siam,” pp.33-48
-Kazuki Iwanaga, ed. Women and
Politics in
-Shigeharu Tanabe, ed. Imagining
Communities in
November 6, Democratization, parties and elections, I
Required readings:
-James Ockey, Making Democracy, pp.22-55
-James Ockey, “Political Parties,
Factions, and Corruption in
-Benedict R. Anderson, “Election
and participation in three Southeast Asian countries,” in R.H. Taylor, ed., The politics of elections in
-Duncan McCargo, “
-John T. Sidel, “Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy Revisited,” Comparative Politics, 40:2, January 2008, pp.127-47
Suggested readings:
Paul Chambers, “Factions, Parties and the Durability of Parliaments, Coalitions and Cabinets,” Party Politics, 14:3, 2008, pp.299-323
November 13, Democratization, parties and elections, II
Required readings:
-Duncan McCargo, “Security,
Development and Political Participation in
-Michael Connors, “Framing the
‘People’s Constitution,’” in Duncan McCargo, ed., Reforming Thai Politics (
-Allen Hicken, “Parties, Policy and
Patronage: Governance and Growth in
-James Ockey, “Change and Continuity in the Thai Political Party System,” Asian Survey, 43:4, 2003, pp.663-80
-Anek Laothamatas, “A Tale of Two
Democracies: Conflicting Perceptions of Elections and Democracy in
Suggested readings:
-Junhan Lee, “Primary Causes of Asian Democratization: Dispelling Conventional Myths,” Asian Survey, 42:6, 2002, pp.821-37
-Aurel Croissant, “Majoritarian and Consensus Democracy, Electoral Systems, and Democratic Consolidation,” Asian Perspective, 26:2, 2002, pp.5-39
-Michael Kelly Connors, Democracy
and National Identity in
-Amitav Acharya, “Southeast Asia’s Democratic Moment,” Asian Survey, 39:3, 1999, pp.418-32
-Paul Chambers, “Factions, Parties and the Durability of Parliaments, Coalitions and Cabinets,” Party Politics, 14:3, 2008, pp.299-323
-N. Ganesan, “Appraising Democratic
Developments in Postauthoritarian States:
-David Murray, Angels and Devils (White Orchid Press, 1996) pp.257-69
-Alex M. Mutebi, “
-Sombat Chantornvong, “The 1997
Constitution and the Politics of Electoral Reform,” in Duncan McCargo, ed., Reforming Thai Politics (
-Ji Giles Ungpakorn, “From Tragedy
to Comedy: Political Reform in
-Saitip Sukatipan, “
-Daniel Arghiros, Democracy,
Development and Decentralization in Provincial
-Suchit Bunbongkarn, “Elections and
democratization in
-Anusorn Limmanee, “
-Robert B. Albritton, “Political
Parties and Elections in
Supplementary readings:
-Duncan McCargo, “Populism and Reformism in Contemporary Thailand,” South East Asia Research, 9:1, 2001, pp.89-107
-Neil A. Englehart, “Democracy and the Thai Middle Class: Globalization, Modernization, and Constitutional Change,” Asian Survey, 43:2, 2003, pp.253-79
November 20, Democratization, parties and elections, III
Required readings:
-David Collier and Steven Levitsky, “Democracy with Adjectives: Conceptual Innovations in Comparative Research,” World Politics, 49:3, 1997 pp.130-51
-Arend Lijphart, Democracies (Yale University Press, 1984)
-Herbert Kitschelt et al. Post-Communist Party Systems (Cambridge University Press, 1999) pp.1-16, 43-92
-Ruth McVey, “Of Greed and
Violence, and Other Signs of Progress,” McVey, ed., Money and Power in Provincial Thailand (
20-page paper due in class
Required readings:
-Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris
Baker, Thaksin, The Business of Politics
in
-Duncan McCargo and Ukrist Pathmanand, The Thaksinization of Thailand, pp.70-120, 166-208
-Duncan McCargo, “Thaksin and the Resurgence of Violence in the Thai South,” Critical Asian Studies, 38:1, 2006, pp.39-71
Suggested readings:
-Duncan McCargo, “Democracy under
Stress in Thaksin’s
-Darryl S.L. Jarvis, “Problems and
Prospects in Thaksin’s
-Giles Ji Ungpakorn, A Coup for
the Rich,
-John Funston, “
-Duncan McCargo, “
-Michael J. Montesano, “
-Duncan McCargo, ed. Rethinking
-Michael J. Montesano and Patrick
Jory, eds. Thai South and Malay North, Ethnic Interactions on a
Supplemental readings:
-Kasian Tejapira, “Toppling Thaksin,” The New Left Review May-June 2006, pp.5-37
Thursday, December 11, 6-7:50: final exam
Representative questions for the candidacy exam in comparative politics:
-Define civil society and describe its emergence and
significance in
-Discuss the utility of a political cultural perspective to understanding Thai politics.
-What roles has Buddhism played in Thai society and politics? In what ways have those roles changed over time?
-What factors accounted for and sustained
-Does the emergence of parliament as the central political
institution in politics facilitate the achievement of goals such as social
justice and equality of economic opportunity?
Has parliament in
-Trace the development of Thai state capacities from the 19th century. To what degree have those developments been linked to political changes? Explain those links and the extent to which state officials have been accountable to political leaders.
-Parliament, suggests Benedict Anderson, has opened
horizontal and vertical channels of power to provincial actors in
-What are the key features of the 1997 Thai constitution? What factors accounted for their inclusion in the charter? Discuss their impact since 1997.
-The 1997 constitution mandated decentralization. What kinds of decentralization are required? What types of decentralization have been implemented to date and with what effects?
-Has
-Explain the dominant role of the Thai military in the country’s politics between 1932 and 1992. In what ways did the military exercise its power. Note ways in which its roles were distinctive from a comparative perspective. Has the military’s role in politics been in retreat since 1992?
-Did the years 1932, 1958, 1973, 1992, and 1997 represent
watersheds in
-Is democracy an effective vehicle for achieving social
justice? Discuss in terms of
-Is the Thai monarchy today a force either engendering or impeding political reform?
-Discuss the emergence and significance of civil society in
-What are the obstacles to a fully consolidated democracy in
-What are the roles of the Thai press in politics? Does the press serve as a servant of the state? A watchdog? A mirror of society? Note the characteristic features of the Thai press.
-What are the causes, consequences, and types of corruption
in
-What is the nature of political conflict in southern
-Describe and characterize Thai ideologies and their relative importance. Refer to traditional institutions as well as to more recent formulations of localism, community development, and King Bhumipol’s “new theory.”
-Describe patterns of macroeconomic policy making in
-In what ways have the economic development experience of
-What have been the main sources of economic governance in
-Describe the main, competing arguments about the sources of
-How did governance of the Thai financial sector change between the 1950s and today? What significance did such changes have for Thai economic and political developments?
-How can we explain the rise to power and successful centralization of power by Thaksin?
-What impact did Thaksin have on
-What factors led to the