Siamese Trouble

The Western Confucian comments the situation for the Siamese monarchy:

• Long Live the Thai Monarchy!
• Democracy Comes to Thailand

A Reply to The Economist

Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, a former Deputy Prime Minister, responds in the Bangkok Post to the recent coverage of the Siamese monarchy in The Economist.

The Economist and the Siamese Monarchy

The Economist has an analysis of the Siamese monarchy, saying:

Other countries, from Spain to Brazil, have overcome dictatorial pasts to grow into strong democracies whose politics is mostly conducted in parliament, not on the streets. Thailand’s failure to follow suit is partly because “Father” has always been willing to step in and sort things out: his children have never quite had to grow up.

It is interesting how they can tag subjects of a monarchy as not having grown up, whilst the adolescence of modern democratic politics is right before their eyes.

The Siamese Monarchy

An interesting forum thread at the website of the Lonely Planet discusses the role of the Siamese King.

Bhumipol Explained

At the News Straits Times, W. Scott Thompson explains King Bhumipol and his reign to the Wilsonian world.

Western Lack of Understanding of Monarchy

In general, Westerners don't understand the role of King Bhumibol. So the Bangkok Post reports.

Could this be due to Wilsonian indoctrination?