The Rise and Decline of Thai Absolutism [Paperback]

This book examines the development of Thailand from the integration of Siam into the European world economy at the beginning of the nineteenth century, up to the emergence of Thailand as a modern nation state in the twentieth century. It concentrates in particular on the reign of King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910), during which period the state was modernized, the power of the great nobles was subordinated to the state, and a modern bureaucracy and education system were created.1. The Siamese State, Society and the World-Economies before Absolutism 2. The First Stage of State-Building 3. Creating a Modern Bureaucracy through Education 4. Contradictions within the Bureaucracy 5. The Defence of Absolutism 6. The 1912 Revolt: The first great challenge to absolutism'This refreshingly clear book chips away at one of the sacred myths of Thai history ... this book is rigorous, academic and crowded with fascinating detail, but also well-organized, lucidly written and refreshingly clear.'- Chris BakerKullada Kesboonchoo Meadteaches at the Faculty of Political Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. Her present academic interests lie in the transformations of Southeast Asian political and economic systems. She focuses on Thailand in relation to the world and regional orders.