The West and Siam's quest for modernity: Siamese responses to nineteenth century American missionaries

Author: Aphornsuvan, Thanet

Source: South East Asia Research, Volume 17, Number 3, November 2009 , pp. 401-431(31)

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Abstract:

This paper examines the interactions that occurred between Westerners and the Siamese elite in the nineteenth century. The author contends that the perceived superiority of Western science and knowledge came not as a result of its being Western as such, but rather as a consequence of the Siamese elite's secure political position in terms of its physical and intellectual powers. The adoption of Western knowledge was measured against the truth of Theravada Buddhism and Buddhist political ideas. Western knowledge and science thus provided the ruling classes with a modern perception of themselves and the world. Nevertheless, the persistence of Siamese sakdina [feudal] social relations ultimately prevented complete modernization. Modernity therefore ended up in the hands of the elite and did not extend to the wider populace.

Keywords: CROSS-CULTURAL RELATIONS; SIAMESE INTELLECTUAL HISTORY; SIAMESE MODERNITY; AMERICAN MISSIONARIES IN SIAM; THERAVADA BUDDHISM

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5367/000000009789838468

Publication date: 2009-11-01

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South East Asia Research publishes articles based on original research or fieldwork on all aspects of South East Asia within the disciplines of archaeology, art history, economics, geography, history, language and literature, law, music, political science, social anthropology and religious studies. This peer-reviewed journal is published four times per year by IP Publishing in cooperation with the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). SOAS is the leading centre in this field in Europe and one of the most prestigious centres of South East Asian Studies in the world.
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