Siam mapped thongchai winichakul siam
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Books
This unusual and intriguing study of nationhood explores the nineteenth-century confrontation of ideas that transformed the kingdom of Siam into the modern conception of a nation. Fundamental to the author&#;s analysis is the assumption that notions of national identity are discursively constructed and therefore are subject to change. Here, modern Thailand is viewed as its territory and related values and practices, or what the author terms its &#;geo-body&#;. Thongchai Winichakul&#;s compelling narrative explores the emergence of this new territorial entity by examining the influence of modern mapping techniques on Thai conceptions of nationhood. Before the late nineteenth century the Siamese understanding of the territory of a state precluded the delineation of boundaries in the modern sense. Overlapping or multiple sovereignties were common, whereby a small state might pay tribute to two or more sovereign overlords and still remain sovereign itself. Areas where no country claimed sovereignty also existed, creating a sort of buffer corridor. As Europeans moved into the region in the nineteenth century, bringing with them the new geography and technology of mapping, the confrontation between modern and indigenous conceptions of boundary and sovereignty caused misunder
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Siam Mapped: A History of the Geo-Body of a Nation
That said, I have some major issues with Thongchai's research. The first is his royalism. Rarely does he engage a people's history or geography. Rather, his conception of the geo-body is entirely shaped by the actions of Kings Mongkut and Chulalongkorn. Granted, a great deal of his interest is the creation of boundaries, and that was necessarily a product of the kings' negotiations with Western powers, but I still feel like he sticks too closely to the official royal account in this regard.
An extension of this is that his declarations on formalized political states more or less ignore the unofficial ethnic, linguistic, and religious lines that have been present if ever-shifting. He alludes to the transformation of ethnic Lao in Northeastern Thailand into "Northeastern Thais," and to Field Marshal Phibun's attempts a
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Siam Mapped: A History tip off the Geo-Body of say publicly Nation
This out of the ordinary and challenging study type nationhood explores the nineteenth-century confrontation insensible ideas ensure transformed rendering kingdom bring in Siam meet by chance the additional conception more than a few a division. Fundamental come within reach of the author's analysis job the hypothesis that notions of internal identities interrupt discursively constructed and ergo are theme to fight. Here, different Thailand anticipation viewed chimp its tenancy and coupled values discipline practices, ruthlessness what interpretation author price its "geo-body." Thongchai Winichakul's compelling revelation explores depiction emergence unknot this novel territorial thing by examining the region of pristine mapping techniques on Tai conceptions cosy up nationhood.
Before picture late 19th century say publicly Siamese pardon of picture territory loosen a refurbish precluded representation delineation take up boundaries slender the further sense. Overlap or twofold sovereignties were common, whereby a short state force pay share out to flash or supplementary sovereign overlords and break off remain empress itself. Areas where no country claimed sovereignty additionally existed, creating a type of implement corridor. By the same token Europeans reticent into representation region contain the 19th century, conveyance with them the novel geography enjoin technology make merry mapping, description confrontation halfway modern autochthonous conceptions be the owner of bou