Attention in Thai politics has been focused this week on the cabinet’s oath-taking error. The episode is worrying for several reasons. This was succinctly summarized by Parit Wacharasindhu: if it was an unintentional gaffe, it casts doubt Prayut’s ability to handle complex issues; if it was intentional, it puts into question his respect for a […]
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On Buffalos and Desserts
Wading into the replies section on any political tweet or Facebook post is almost always like intentionally jumping into a well filled with poisoned water. Social media has never been the arena for intellectual discourse and well-reasoned arguments, but rather a breeding ground for angry insults and cheap shots. Thai social media, however, may be […]
In Thailand, Pessimism Once Again
“If voting made a difference”, Mark Twain once wrote, “they would never let us do it.” In Thailand, this has more than a hint of being true. The election was never going to resolve many of Thailand’s problems. The power of the pen, as a popular hashtag went, was never going to be enough to […]
Takeaways From Thailand’s 2019 Election
I just flew from Washington D.C to New York City with no laptop. Originally, I had planned on commenting on the Thai election after I fly back to Berkeley, but I couldn’t resist the temptation to write a quick post. The election, already famous for its unpredictability, has took an even stranger turn: the junta’s […]
Vote Future Forward
“By three methods”, Confucius once observed, “we may learn wisdom. First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is bitterest”. If Thailand has gained wisdom, it has indeed been through bitter experience. Repeated military interventions that disrupts democracy, a corrupt political culture and an economy that […]
This Blog in 2019
Hi everyone! Every January, I like to write a ‘state of the blog’ post just to recap the previous year and outline some of my goals for the next. I usually write this very close – or on the date of – the new year, but I decided to take a short break from writing. […]
Thailand in Crisis: An Introduction
“Military juntas are rare in the modern world,” a professor at Berkeley said in lecture. “If you’re currently living under one, then you should realize that it isn’t normal.” As someone from Thailand, it was hard not to think about those words, with Thailand still ruled by that apparently rare species of government. The statement […]
Summer Reading 2017 & Other Thoughts
I have lots to say in this post. That’s probably not new, because most who know me will simply point out that I always tend to have quite a bit to say. Unfortunately, though, that will make this post a little long. I originally intended it to be about some of the books I’ve been […]
The Story of Thai Democracy: Octobers of Tragedy
This post is the seventh post in the series ‘The Story of Thai Democracy’, covering the political history of Thailand since the transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy. You can see the rest of this project here. The death of Sarit Thanarat left a vacancy in the post of prime minister. Aside from the scandalous […]
Donald Trump, President-Elect
“Veni, vidi, vici”, Julius Caesar once said after a successful battle: “I came, I saw, I conquered”. A fitting maxim, perhaps, for the most successful general of the ancient world, but also, surprisingly enough, for a billionaire businessman-turned amateur politician. Against the seventeen Republican candidates, Trump triumphed; against the Democratic nominee, he repeated the feat. […]
