Comments on: Australia’s link to the CDA

By: Srithanonchai

Srithanonchai — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 03:33:22 +0000

And yet another addition on Noranit’s educational history, this time including a reference to Columbia University: 1965 Diploma in Sovietology, Freiburg University, Switzerland. 1967-1970 M.A. in Diplomacy and World Affairs Occidental College, U.S.A. 1972-1975 M.A. in Comparative Politics,Columbia University

By: Srithanonchai

Srithanonchai — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 03:26:52 +0000

A piece of additional information re “anon.” : Noranit Setabutr. 1971. “The Role of the Military in Thailand, 1958-1970.” Bangkok: Praeppittaya. 133 pp. According to the author’s forword, this book was originally presented as a “thesis” at Occidental College, Los Angeles, 1970.

By: Colum

Colum — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:38:47 +0000

his history for the confused… http://www.tu.ac.th/overview/admin/exec/22.noranit/Prof.Noranit%20Setabutr.htm

By: anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 23:07:17 +0000

Let me clarify: Noranit was studying at Columbia in the late 60's or early 70's. He was a roon phee to some Thai graduate students there, so I presumed that he was doing a PhD. I might have been wrong about him completing a PhD. My opinion of him is that he's the Pointy Haird Boss-types who was promoted to administrative positions because he lacked the willingness or capability to do research or teaching.

By: Srithanonchai

Srithanonchai — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 15:34:55 +0000

Noranit does not have a PhD from Columbia University, nor from any other university. He is authoritarian, insists on his seniority, dislikes foreigners, and has neither a preference for democratic behavior nor for good governance. As Chermsak Pinthong said in today’s Bangkok Post: Noranit is “not outstanding.” As “anonymous” indicated, Noranit is not a scholar, but rather a politically inclined administrator. However, his surname is well-known, and he was recently, at the age of 65, appointed to the Royal Institute. One should note that Noranit was elected chairperson of the CDA only. Who will chair the 35-member constitution drafting committee is still open. Yet, a few cronies of Noranit will sure make it to that outfit.

By: polo

polo — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 15:30:55 +0000

“While KPI has an extensive program in consolidating Thailand’s democracy … ”

I thought KPI (and those joint IPPS-KPI folks like Chia-anan) was dedicate to furthering only the royalist view of democracy, and that while public participation draws their interest, building rule of law and equality under it has not been equally highlighted.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:27:23 +0000

He did his PhD in political science at Columbia University during the 1960’s, at a time of major student unrest. I believe (although I’m not 100% certain) that he was at Columbia when radical students took over the place.

However, like many Thai academics of that era (e.g., Juree Vichit-Vadakan, who did her BA, MA, and PhD at UC Berkeley during the 1960’s but is today an advisor to the junta), he didn’t let the progressivism of his American classmates affect his personal political views.

His reputation at Thammasat was as a politically well-linked politico/administrator, not as an academic per se. He made himself useful to the powers that be, no matter who they were.

He never made a name for himself for his academic work or research – after 40 years, he is still just an associate professor, having never made it to full professorship. I don’t think he’s ever had an article published in a refereed academic journal – at least not recently.

Compare this against the architects of the 1997 constitution: Chai-anand Samudavajiva, Amorn Chantarasomboon, Bowornsak Uwanno, and the rest of the Institute for Public Policy Studies (IPPS) bunch. Their views on public participation and constitutionalism were very well known through extensive academic work and advocacy, and it was no surprise to anyone how the 1997 constitution turned out.

I suspect Noranit will write whatever his masters tell him to write.