Thai South and Malay North: Ethnic Interactions on a Plural Peninsula

Product Description

The portion of the Malay Peninsula where the Thai Buddhist civilization of Thailand gives way to the Malay Muslim civilization of Malaysia is characterized by multiple forms of pluralism. An appreciation of the long history and varied forms of that pluralism opens up fresh and important perspectives on the violent crisis currently affecting southern Thailand.

Thai South and Malay North brings together research by academic specialists working on this border zone who examine a broad range of issues relating to the turmoil afflicting the region. Drawing on a broad historical perspective, the authors explore religious observances and national identity, the relationship between electoral democracy and separatist violence, and interactions between northern Malaysia and southern Thailand.

Intellectually rigorous and theoretically sophisticated, Thai South and Malay North is the most comprehensive work to date on a part of Southeast Asia whose historical, linguistic, and political complexity has long defied scholarly synthesis—essential reading for anyone seeking to understand southern Thailand ‘s complex past and troubled present.

Review

An important and timely book which does much to illuminate the important conflicts and debates around the Thai South and the Malay North, a volume which has been eagerly awaited and will be widely used. The editorial introduction and the scene-setting contribution by Anthony Reid both work very well in situating the volume’s succeeding sections in broad historical and thematic context. –Duncan McCargo, Professor of Southeast Asian Politics, University of Leeds

About the Author

Michael J. MONTESANO is Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.

Patrick JORY is Senior Lecturer in Southeast Asian History at the University of Queensland. He was formerly coordinator of the Regional Studies program at Walailak University in southern Thailand.