Thailand: The Politics of Despotic Paternalism

by John L.S. Girling and Thak Chaloemtiarana

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801493285
• ISBN13: 9780801493287
• Release Date: June 1985
• Publisher: Southeast Asia Program Publications
• Length: 284 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher