In terms of state formation in Thailand, the 1932 revolution was a defining moment as suggested by Songchai na Yala’s framework. The shift to the nation-state means that sovereignty rested with representatives of the nation, the bourgeoisie. One crucial feature is that the bourgeoisie made decision on the direction of capitalist development. The Thai elite (Phibun) shared an aspiration with Indonesian leaders in developing indigenous industries in opposition to Western domination. [For the discussion of Phibun’s nationalism concerning Thai industry see Matthew Philip…..] Hence came the beginning of industrial capitalism in Southeast Asia.
Finally, if we look around countries in Southeast Asia they are all haphazardly moving towards democratization. Thailand, on the strength of Lieberman parallel development, is also in the same process. Furthermore, if one is allowed to extend Lieberman’s logic that state development was a linear phenomenon to present period, we can say with confidence that there is no turning back to previous state formation. This contradicts Thongchai’s argument that the present Thai state is laden with characteristics of absolutist monarchy. The reason for his conclusion was the prominent place of the Thai monarch and military in society which were major social forces in the absolutist state. The way in which the monarchy has been allowed to slowly but consistency build up its position since the American era was a revival of feudal ceremonies and practices. One can see that Thongchai misunderstands the state transformation in Thailand. Note that under the absolutist state many state ceremonies were rationalized and scaled down, crouching was prohibited. Other features of the monarchy’s role in the society calls for future studies. In our opinion, the Thai state is capitalist nation-state with the interregnum which signifies conflicts between the conservative and liberal capitalists as well as greater participation of the lower classes in the political process. That is the reason why it needs further study of the new social forces in the political process, liberal capitalists and lower classes.
What we have is absolutely not an absolutist state but a nation-state which appears to be suffering from quite frequent interregna in the military coup d’état and popular revolt. With the increasing role of new social forces and the growing strength of the belated popular nationalist movement, the end of the present interregnum can be expected.