In fact, the psychology of fascist authoritarian leaders has been examined in some depth because it led to the Holocaust – a fact worth recalling in present-day Thailand given that a senior Thai monk in a royally-patronized monastery has called for any death of a Buddhist in the insurgency in the Deep South to be met with the a
This psychology of fascist paternalism, born out of the Italian and German experiences, has led to most of Thailand’s post-war military dictators – as well as the authoritarian demagoguery of Thaksin Shinawatra. This legacy, quite possibly together with the stress associated with the Herculean task of graft-busting he appears to have taken on, explains Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha’s recent outburst that he would dispense with ‘attitude adjustment’, simply imprison dissidents, and isolate Thailand from the rest of the world if necessary – and the psychology of authoritarian followers explains why the majority of Thai people polled supported General Prayut’s comment. However, the Buddhist aspect to the strain of paternalism adopted by General Prayut may explain why he has not actually ‘disappeared’ anyone yet – unlike previous Thai military dictators.
To conclude, tragically, there is still a direct connection between Thailand’s experience prior to and during World War II and the present, one which has not yet been exorcised. Siam’s embrace of French inferior race theory, an internal form of colonization borrowed from the experience of British India, and the adoption of the Führerprinzip are all Contact Ghosts in the Shell. It is the task of the international community, especially the friends of Thailand and those who have dedicated themselves to the rejection of fascism whether social or political, such as the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, to work with Thailand to address this unfortunate inheritance.
Tags: John Draper Special Circumstances
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