Case Study: Princess Sirindhorn, China’s Best International Friend
Princess Sirindhorn’s extensive involvement with the Confucius Institute can be
considered as part of the hegemonic project of creating international harmony as a
norm. This section shows that the Confucius Institute takes advantage of her highly
revered position within the Thai society, as well as her personal interests in China and
Chinese culture as a way to strengthen harmonious relations between Thailand and
China. In Thailand, the Thai government strongly promotes the institution of the
monarchy and has placed it at the epicentre of Thailand’s national identity (Streckfuss
1995). Thus, the case of Princess Sirindhorn offers a perspective of how the highly
revered position of the monarchy is used by the Confucius Institute.