Readers following events in Bangkok may be interested in the transcript of a recent radio interview with New Mandala co-founder Andrew Walker. Radio Australia, for those who aren’t regular listeners, is the international radio service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and reportedly goes out to almost 300 partner AM and FM stations around the world.
Walker on Radio Australia
October 15th, 2008 by Nicholas Farrelly · 6 Comments
Tags: Thailand
6 responses so far ↓
1 Lohaarn // Oct 15, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Why is Andrew talking about the political turmoil in Bkk? I thought he is an anthropologist. Furthermore, his statements about democracy in Thailand are not very academic and elaborated.
2 Leif Jonsson // Oct 16, 2008 at 11:30 am
Is the definition of an anthropologist someone who has nothing to say about Bangkok (or national-level dynamics)? That we can say things about northern Thai matrifocality and the like, and are clueless about anything beyond a village? I find it a good sign that the anthropologist is interviewed by a major radio station about current events in Thailand.
Some historical background may help. Up until the 1970s, the work of westerners in Thailand was largely a scholarship of admiration. Subsequently, after a very tense and militarized period, much was a scholarship of critique (where “the state” had a very concrete reality). It seems that we may be going somewhere different now, in part because the anthropologists (Thai and Japanese and Western) write on various aspects of the national reality. Up to a point, the perspective matches where we have allies — it used to be among the elite (Phya Anuman etc), then among the intellectuals sympathetic to suppressed causes (land reform, leftists, and so on), and now it is a lot more complex and varied. The disciplinary mechanisms are not what they used to be.
3 songtham tawinwang // Oct 16, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I defend Walker’s right to speak freely. He’s one worth listening to. You don’t have to believe everything he says, but what he says gives food for thought. So thank you, Walker.
4 jonfernquest // Oct 16, 2008 at 4:51 pm
“Why is Andrew talking about the political turmoil in Bkk? I thought he is an anthropologist.”
Exactly. Unfortunately western states have to see Thailand through whatever distorted glasses are available to them. It’s not like Thai Studies is selling like hotcakes in western countries.
Take for instance the Financial Times most popular source on Thai politics, Giles Ungpakorn who is a member of a Trotskyist organisation advocating world revolution.
5 Land of Snarls // Oct 17, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Dates, details of royal funeral.
Many NM readers will be interested to know the details of the funeral of Phra PiNang. A fairly comprehensive & brief coverage, including dates & descriptions of the 6 processions is here:
http://photojourn.wordpress.com/2008/09/15/thailands-royal-cremation-set-for-six-days-in-november/
Sorry if this is slightly off-topic. I know many anthropologists & others are waiting for these details, couldn’t find anywhere else to put it (as the abbot said to the acolyte).
Interesting interview on Radio Oz. Doesn’t need defending. OF COURSE anthopologists talk about politics – it’s absolutely in their portfolio.
6 Ralph Cramden // Oct 20, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Not sure what to say about jonfernquest’s comment at #4, which confuses states and people and continues the rant about foreigners not understanding Thailand. Of course, there are many who don’t, just as having Thai genes does not predispose every Thai to understanding the current political situation in Thailand. This “foreigners don’t understand” suggestion is a red herring for it tells us nothing except to give us a perspective on jonfernquest.
Speaking of red, that Ji Ungpakorn is a Trostskyist is hardly an earth shattering revelation given that Ji tells everyone, including the FT. Maybe Ji’s transparency on his politics will rub off on some others involved in Thailand’s politics. Maybe the Bangkok Post and Nation can take a leaf from the FT and begin identifying their mysterious “a source” who is cited repeatedly?
It is worth noting that the recent attacks on the Ungapakorn brothers have been malicious and smell fishy as well: a decided PAD odor to them.
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