The ambivalent attitudes of the Siamese elite towards the West during the reign of King Chulalongkorn, 1868-1910

Author: Chonchirdsin, Sud

Source: South East Asia Research, Volume 17, Number 3, November 2009 , pp. 433-456(24)

Publisher: IP Publishing Ltd

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Abstract:

Increasing and intensified political and cultural contact with the West during the colonial era constituted a serious concern for the Siamese elite. On the one hand, the kingdom needed to be modernized with Western-style knowledge and technology in order to survive. On the other hand, adopting Western civilization would lead to the loss of Siamese identity, which the elite wished to retain. They needed to select carefully which knowledge and culture from the West they considered to be 'civilized' and not harmful to their identity and political stability.

Keywords: AMBIVALENCE; CIVILIZATION; IDENTITY; THE WEST; SIAMESE ELITE; KING CHULALONGKORN

Document Type: Research article

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