NESSThai

ON-LINE

Thailand Guidebooks
History and Culture
The Natural World
Tourism Studies
Miscellaneous

Please E-mail us at:

[email protected]

Copyright�1998, The NESSThai

Network for Environmentally- & Socially-Sustainable Tourism (Thailand)

People, History and Culture

Back to Guide Book Reviews Up to Book Review Index Next to Reviews of Books on the Natural World

The books below come from our personal library of books we bought while undertaking studies on Thailand, or just while we familiarised ourselves with some of the historical, cultural and political aspects of this country.

wpe16.jpg (5006 bytes)

"Thailand: Economy and Politics" by P. Phongpaichit and C. Baker, 1995. Available at Asia Books and other bookstores throughout Bangkok.

I want to buy this book!

"Thailand: Economy and Politics"

An excellent overall study of Thailand's political and economic history. This book provides contextual information about the changes in society, politics and the economy during the last two hundred years in Thailand. Although its format makes for sometimes repetitive reading, the emphasis on the fact that Thailand has changed drastically in what is a relatively short period of time, provides a backdrop of understanding to a country with a strong mythological character to its history. This is not the history of the elites, nor the view of a rural idyll many social commentators refer to even now. A powerful study - well worth reading.

wpe17.jpg (5923 bytes)

"Capital Accumulation in Thailand: 1855-1985" by S. Akira. Available at Asia Books and other bookstores throughout Bangkok.

Out of print, but Amazon.com can try to get this book for you too!

I want to buy this book!

"Capital Accumulation in Thailand: 1855-1985"

A fascinating insight into the evolution of the current economically-powerful sectors operating in Thailand. The title suggests a dry read, and it is highly academic. The text is clearly written, however, and like " Thailand: Economy and Politics", this book provides a context for understanding modern Thailand by providing a framework for viewing the changes experienced during the last 150 years.

wpe18.jpg (7836 bytes)
"Corruption and Democracy in Thailand" by P. Phongpaichit and S. Piriyayangsan, 1994. Available at Asia Books and other bookstores throughout Bangkok.

I want to buy this book!

"Corruption & Democracy in Thailand"

Sorry!

We're still reading this one. Check back later for a full review, or email us with your own review and we'll post it up here (with due credit of course).

wpe19.jpg (3525 bytes)

"The Balancing Act: A History of Modern Thailand" by J. Wright Jr, 1991. Available at Asia Books and other bookstores throughout Bangkok.

Out of print, but Amazon.com can try to get this book for you too!

I want to buy this book!

"The Balancing Act: A History of Modern Thailand"

"The Balancing Act" provides a history of the changing elites of Thailand and uses this to explain political change since the 1932 establishment of a constitutional monarchy. Fascinating reading, and a good way to familiarise oneself with the complex changes in government and power structures in the country. This does not, however, cover much of the social change, nor provide many insights into how politics has affected the ordinary people of Thailand.

wpeD.jpg (6461 bytes)

"The Southern Expansion of the Chinese People" by C. FitzGerald, 1972. Available at Asia Books and other bookstores throughout Bangkok.

I want to buy this book!

"The Southern Expansion of the Chinese People"

Although this book does not focus on Thailand, its discussion of the movement of the Chinese people through Southeast Asia provides insights into and a historical context for the economically and politically important Chinese community in Thailand.

wpeF.jpg (6275 bytes)

"Power and Culture: the Struggle Against Poverty in Thailand" by E. Gohlert, 1991. Available at Asia Books and other bookstores throughout Bangkok.

I want to buy this book!

"Power and Culture: the Struggle Against Poverty in Thailand"

Ernst Gohlert's many visits to Thailand have provided him with an insight into the alternative development movements and organisations working here. His perspective focuses on the need for poor communities to develop self-reliance, in a similar fashion to Schumacher's "Small is Beautiful" philosophy. There are examples of communities and leaders in Thailand which have been successful in moving away from mainstream development towards more community-focused development.

Well-written and interesting, it provides many hopeful examples for those looking for alternatives to mainstream development ideas.

Return to the Top of the Page

Please e-mail us:

E-Mail

[�Up�] [�Thailand�Guidebooks�] [�History�and�Culture�] [�The�Natural�World�] [�Tourism�Studies�] [�Miscellaneous�]

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1