ABSTRACT
In order to understand ailand and the historical factors associated with that country, one must understand that first and foremost ailand is officially recognized as a kingdom. e King of ailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is a constitutional monarch who largely acts as a figurehead for the nation (Baker and Phongpaichit, 2005; Warren et al. 2006). ough his formal authority does not carry the same weight as that of the Prime Minister, he has still been very instrumental in resolving several political stalemates and has interceded during prior crises, thereby adding to the government’s stability. Further, King Bhumibol Adulyadej is credited with facilitating the transfer to democracy during the 1930s. King Adulyadej is the longest reigning monarch in ai history (he was born in 1927 and assumed the throne in 1946) and, most importantly, he is well loved and highly respected by the people of ailand (Warren et al. 2006; Wyatt, 2003). ough it is the Prime Minister of ailand that makes the primary decisions and carries the weight of authority during day-to-day operations of the country, the king is adored
Introduction 425 Buddhist Social Ethics in ailand429 ai Policing and Ethical Dilemmas434 Extremism in the South442 Events Leading to the Coup d’État444 References446
by the public for his philanthropic work and for a variety of domestic duties that he performs within the nation (Warren et al. 2006).
