ABSTRACT

This book is about the current state of International Relations (IR) as an academic discipline in Thailand and how its practical experience and knowledge can contribute to the wider debates of IR. It places itself within the debates of ‘Global IR’ and ‘non-Western IR’ that have not only broadened the way IR is interpreted in a variety of geographical spaces but have also led to a critical examination of the usefulness and applicability of IR theories and concepts sourced from the West for explaining the growing complexities and problems in other parts of the world. In light of this debate, this volume seeks to reflect on the ethnocentric nature of IR through an exploration of its status and its subfields in Thailand. The book is divided into three parts. The first part looks at the impact various Western theories have had on the development of Thai IR theorising. The second part examines the various sub-fields of IR in Thailand. It seeks to elucidate what factors have hindered or provided opportunities for the development of an indigenous sourced IR theory, as well as to examine the implications of indigenous knowledge and experience with respect to the advancement of IR as a discipline. The third part critically reflects on the developments in IR in Thailand.