Finding Their Voice: Northeastern Villagers and the Thai State

by Charles F. Keyes

Overview

This book traces the evolution of the rural, Lao-speaking people of northeastern Thailand, now over a third of the nation’s population, from a traditional peasantry into “cosmopolitan” villagers who are actively shaping Thai politics. The electoral successes of the Thai Rak Thai/Pheu Thai Party in the early twenty-first century and the strong support given to the Red-Shirt movement appear to have finally given the cosmopolitan villagers of northeastern Thailand a continuing voice in the nation’s political process.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9786162150746
Publisher:	Silkworm Books
Publication date:	07/01/2014
Pages:	260
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Charles Keyes is professor emeritus of anthropology and international studies at the University of Washington.

Table of Contents

Preface v

A Note on Transliteration ix

Prologue xi

1 Rural Isan 1

2 The Foundations of lsan 15

3 Buddhist Millenialist Roots of Isan Political Culture 33

4 Isan Becoming Thai 53

5 Monarchy, Security, and Development 91

6 The Failure of Communist Revolution and the Rise of Non-Governmental Organizations 115

7 Entrepreneurs, Migrants, and Protestors: Northeastern Thai Villagers Seek Development on Their Own Terms 135

8 Silent Peasants No Longer: Northeastern Villagers and the New Politics of Thailand 175

Notes 195

References 227

Index 253

Editorial Reviews

"In the few months since this book was written, Thai politics has done another somersault. These ructions will continue. This book charts the social and intellectual changes underlying one major element of this turbulence, and is thus necessary reading for understanding current and near future Thai politics."

Bangkok Post

"Keyes tells the story from the micro-viewpoint of the village and the macro-level of the region. . . this book charts the social and intellectual changes underlying one major element of [regional] turbulence, and is thus necessary reading for understanding current and near future Thai politics."

Bangkok Post - Chris Baker

"Keyes’s book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the underpinnings of the Red Shirt movement in northeastern Thailand."

Journal of Asian Studies - Katherine A. Bowie

"Keyes tells the story from the micro-viewpoint of the village and the macro-level of the region. . . this book charts the social and intellectual changes underlying one major element of [regional] turbulence, and is thus necessary reading for understanding current and near future Thai politics."—Chris Baker, Bangkok Post

"In the few months since this book was written, Thai politics has done another somersault. These ructions will continue. This book charts the social and intellectual changes underlying one major element of this turbulence, and is thus necessary reading for understanding current and near future Thai politics."—Bangkok Post

From the Publisher