Buddhism, democracy and identity in Thailand

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Standard

Buddhism, democracy and identity in Thailand. / McCargo, Duncan.

In: Democratization, Vol. 11, No. 4, 01.08.2004, p. 155-170.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Harvard

McCargo, D 2004, 'Buddhism, democracy and identity in Thailand', Democratization, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 155-170. https://doi.org/10.1080/1351034042000234576

APA

McCargo, D. (2004). Buddhism, democracy and identity in Thailand. Democratization, 11(4), 155-170. https://doi.org/10.1080/1351034042000234576

Vancouver

McCargo D. Buddhism, democracy and identity in Thailand. Democratization. 2004 Aug 1;11(4):155-170. https://doi.org/10.1080/1351034042000234576

Author

McCargo, Duncan. / Buddhism, democracy and identity in Thailand. In: Democratization. 2004 ; Vol. 11, No. 4. pp. 155-170.

Bibtex

@article{59ae48eb3d854d5ca694974f90d47ee4,
title = "Buddhism, democracy and identity in Thailand",
abstract = "Buddhism in Thailand has been characterized as a 'revolutionary' force, since rationalist Buddhist teachings offer considerable support for progressive and democratic political ideas. The reality, however, is that Thai Buddhism has been captured by the state, and its latent radicalism neutralized. The symbiotic relationship between the state and sangha has effectively limited Buddhism to the role of legitimating state power, and the universalistic teachings of Buddhism have been subordinated to nationalist ideology. While there is some interest in progressive ideas, overall numbers of monks are falling, and commercialized folk Buddhism has gained the upper hand. Monastic sexual and financial misdeeds are widespread. Thai Buddhism is also highly intolerant of those who deviate from mainstream teachings, making a mockery of ideas of freedom of religion. The Thai state strongly supports a conservative, orthodox and authoritarian mode of Buddhism. Insofar as Thailand has experienced processes of democratic transition and consolidation in recent decades, it has been in spite of the role of Buddhism.",
keywords = "Buddhism, Democratization, State, Thailand",
author = "Duncan McCargo",
year = "2004",
month = aug,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1080/1351034042000234576",
language = "English",
volume = "11",
pages = "155--170",
journal = "Democratization",
issn = "1351-0347",
publisher = "Routledge",
number = "4",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Buddhism, democracy and identity in Thailand

AU - McCargo, Duncan

PY - 2004/8/1

Y1 - 2004/8/1

N2 - Buddhism in Thailand has been characterized as a 'revolutionary' force, since rationalist Buddhist teachings offer considerable support for progressive and democratic political ideas. The reality, however, is that Thai Buddhism has been captured by the state, and its latent radicalism neutralized. The symbiotic relationship between the state and sangha has effectively limited Buddhism to the role of legitimating state power, and the universalistic teachings of Buddhism have been subordinated to nationalist ideology. While there is some interest in progressive ideas, overall numbers of monks are falling, and commercialized folk Buddhism has gained the upper hand. Monastic sexual and financial misdeeds are widespread. Thai Buddhism is also highly intolerant of those who deviate from mainstream teachings, making a mockery of ideas of freedom of religion. The Thai state strongly supports a conservative, orthodox and authoritarian mode of Buddhism. Insofar as Thailand has experienced processes of democratic transition and consolidation in recent decades, it has been in spite of the role of Buddhism.

AB - Buddhism in Thailand has been characterized as a 'revolutionary' force, since rationalist Buddhist teachings offer considerable support for progressive and democratic political ideas. The reality, however, is that Thai Buddhism has been captured by the state, and its latent radicalism neutralized. The symbiotic relationship between the state and sangha has effectively limited Buddhism to the role of legitimating state power, and the universalistic teachings of Buddhism have been subordinated to nationalist ideology. While there is some interest in progressive ideas, overall numbers of monks are falling, and commercialized folk Buddhism has gained the upper hand. Monastic sexual and financial misdeeds are widespread. Thai Buddhism is also highly intolerant of those who deviate from mainstream teachings, making a mockery of ideas of freedom of religion. The Thai state strongly supports a conservative, orthodox and authoritarian mode of Buddhism. Insofar as Thailand has experienced processes of democratic transition and consolidation in recent decades, it has been in spite of the role of Buddhism.

KW - Buddhism

KW - Democratization

KW - State

KW - Thailand

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=3242738688&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/1351034042000234576

DO - 10.1080/1351034042000234576

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:3242738688

VL - 11

SP - 155

EP - 170

JO - Democratization

JF - Democratization

SN - 1351-0347

IS - 4

ER -

ID: 244540227