Biased Views Of Neighbouring Nations Must Change, Thai History Experts Say

[webfact]

Biased views of neighbouring nations must change, experts say
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The teaching of Thai history and the history of Thailand's relations with its neighbours should be reformed to eradicate Thais' superiority complex and condescending attitude, mistrust and even hatred towards its closest neighbours, two Thai experts said.

Thamrongsak Petchlertanan, an expert on the histories of Thailand and Cambodia and their territories, and chairman of the political science programme at Rangsit University, said a century of nationalistic Thai education, which casts its neighbours as villains, had led to mistrust and hatred against those from neighbouring countries, particularly Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

"One hundred years is a long time. Thais have been taught about the greatness of the Thai state. After [the Preah Vihear dispute] it will be the responsibility of the state, particularly the Education Ministry, [to initiate reform]," Thamrongsak said.

The task won't be easy at all, said Thamrongsak, who suspects that many Cabinet ministers themselves hold condescending views towards people from neighbouring countries. He also questioned what could be done with the current lot of teachers and educators, who may be too old to change their attitudes, even if a new curriculum and textbooks were introduced "strategically" to soften Thais' attitudes as the Kingdom prepares to join the Asean Economic Community in 2015.

The lecturer urged Thais to see both their countrymen and their neighbours as fellow human beings and equals. He acknowledged, however, that it would take some time before this could be realised - if ever - particularly as anti-Cambodian sentiment is strong and has been fuelled by ultra-nationalists and some "elites" over the past five or six years for domestic political reasons.

As Thailand and Cambodia defended their respective claims over disputed land near Preah Vihear at the International Court of Justice in The Hague this week, many took to social-networking sites to express their uncensored views. A female Thai telecommunications consultant using the Twitter account @jickko_nong tweeted in Thai on Wednesday afternoon: "Thailand is more advanced and more developed than Cambodia. Better economy, bigger population, land area, higher GDP 'nothing to be afraid of'."

Thamrongsak said the matter of Thailand's relations with its neighbours was of strategic interest and should be given priority now, as more people from these countries will be working in and visiting Thailand from 2015 onward.

"The question is, is the Thai government aware of this yet?"

Akkhaphong Khamkhun, a junior lecturer in Thai studies at Thammasat University who is also knowledgeable about Cambodia and other neighbouring countries, said that beyond educational bias was the religious belief in karma. This causes many Thais to feel that the status of less developed countries like Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar can be explained by the fact that they have accrued less good karma or merit.

Many Thais also believe that people in such countries are simply not as smart as those from more developed countries, Akkhaphong said.

That's why even among Thais, less educated and poor people are often regarded by well-educated and well-to-do Thais as stupid "water buffaloes".

"Nationalistic 'logic' reduces the humanity of others," Akkhaphong pointed out.

"Is there a solution? We must tackle the basis of the belief system. Perhaps it will take generational change," he said.


-- The Nation 2013-04-20

[BrianCR]

Brilliant! Finally educated Thai people are speaking out on a subject that should be addressed and changed. All this hate your neighbour and we are better than you rubbish should/must come to an end and people should be encouraged to work and get on together for the benefit of all. Thai schools generally avoid teaching history (for the reasons given in the posting above). Even if they do take a stab at it, it is very rare that you will find a westerner teaching the subject, just in case he tells the truth! Whilst they are dealing with the subject they should include world history then perhaps, we will see fewer teens wearing hate messages and stickers on their tee-shirts!

[retell]

X 3000 the first i hear since a long time that makes any sense

are those experts in government if not i hope soon they will

[Thai at Heart]

To do so would change the Thai identity so much, there would need to be a plan of what to teach in place, or the place might end up in national gloom.

[Locationthailand]

I have a chronicled history of the development and emergence of Thailand from prehistoric to 1993 and frankly in their modern times (last 2,000 years) they have nothing to be arrogant about. They just keep bumbling along in achievement by default. This last century has been one of its worst due to power struggles and corruption. This century will also see some dramatic changes which I would predict, may not be for the better in the short term (the next 15-20 years).

[EyesWideOpen]

Wow finally an intelligent statement !!! Yes this hate thy neighbor is certainly a poor way to teach students. Although the article is a bit off. Laos is viewed as a sort of bumbling backward cousin, with no hatred since a lot of the people in Isan are in fact descended from Laos people. ( Ever notice the same language and the same food ?? ) Not really sure about the Thai arrogance part or its origins. The Khymer empire showed itself to be far more advanced with its construction of the Ankor temple complex. As far as the Burmese, that hatred is based upon them routinely coming into Thailand and using it as a whipping post. So that could be a bit tricky to fix... :-)

[Thai at Heart]

Wow finally an intelligent statement !!! Yes this hate thy neighbor is certainly a poor way to teach students. Although the article is a bit off. Laos is viewed as a sort of bumbling backward cousin, with no hatred since a lot of the people in Isan are in fact descended from Laos people. ( Ever notice the same language and the same food ?? ) Not really sure about the Thai arrogance part or its origins. The Khymer empire showed itself to be far more advanced with its construction of the Ankor temple complex. As far as the Burmese, that hatred is based upon them routinely coming into Thailand and using it as a whipping post. So that could be a bit tricky to fix... :-)

The bigger problem is that they consider being better off than Laos or Cambodia some sort of event.

Greece was the same vis a vis Turkey and Bulgaria. Look how far that got them.

[Payboy]

Biased views of neighbouring nations must change, experts say

Not gonna happen, common sense says.

[EyesWideOpen]

Wow finally an intelligent statement !!! Yes this hate thy neighbor is certainly a poor way to teach students. Although the article is a bit off. Laos is viewed as a sort of bumbling backward cousin, with no hatred since a lot of the people in Isan are in fact descended from Laos people. ( Ever notice the same language and the same food ?? ) Not really sure about the Thai arrogance part or its origins. The Khymer empire showed itself to be far more advanced with its construction of the Ankor temple complex. As far as the Burmese, that hatred is based upon them routinely coming into Thailand and using it as a whipping post. So that could be a bit tricky to fix... :-)

The bigger problem is that they consider being better off than Laos or Cambodia some sort of event.

Greece was the same vis a vis Turkey and Bulgaria. Look how far that got them.

Laos is being turned into a colony of China, and Cambodia was basically destroyed by Pol Pot killing every intelligent person. Burma is who Thailand must worry about in the future.

Get rid of the crap government, and unleash the power of a nation full of intelligent hard working people.....

[Thai at Heart]

Wow finally an intelligent statement !!! Yes this hate thy neighbor is certainly a poor way to teach students. Although the article is a bit off. Laos is viewed as a sort of bumbling backward cousin, with no hatred since a lot of the people in Isan are in fact descended from Laos people. ( Ever notice the same language and the same food ?? ) Not really sure about the Thai arrogance part or its origins. The Khymer empire showed itself to be far more advanced with its construction of the Ankor temple complex. As far as the Burmese, that hatred is based upon them routinely coming into Thailand and using it as a whipping post. So that could be a bit tricky to fix... :-)

The bigger problem is that they consider being better off than Laos or Cambodia some sort of event.

Greece was the same vis a vis Turkey and Bulgaria. Look how far that got them.

Laos is being turned into a colony of China, and Cambodia was basically destroyed by Pol Pot killing every intelligent person. Burma is who Thailand must worry about in the future.

Get rid of the crap government, and unleash the power of a nation full of intelligent hard working people.....

Precisely. So being satisfied to look down on those around as though this is enough is really silly. Thailand needs to aspire to become like more developed places, not be happy to beggar thy neighbour.

[jbrain]

The teaching of Thai history and the history of Thailand's relations with its neighbours should be reformed to eradicate Thais' superiority complex and condescending attitude, mistrust and even hatred towards its closest neighbours, two Thai experts said.

And for once this statement wasn't made by so called Thaivisa Thai bashers, so after all there must be some truth in it.

Can't wait for the Thaier than Thai's for their reply.

[arthurboy]

"Nationalistic 'logic' reduces the humanity of others," Akkhaphong pointed out.

Well said Khun Akkkhaphong, well said.

This is an important start; history is notoriously difficult to write without any form of subjective bias getting in the way of fact because historical facts are so often open to re or (mis)interpretation and wilful recension or rewriting.

What is one man's fact is another man's lie.

However, this is an important start. Let's see what happens.

[DocN]

For once, I tip my hat to this expert!

Truer words...

Unfortunately, whet needs to be done and what will be done are two different kind of shoes.

[lungmi]

Good article, but the biggest problem is not mentioned: No qualified Thai historian in Thailand! The best work abroad, no place for them in Thailand (LM law, no correct documents etc.)

The teaching of Thai history at the best is teaching legends, if not literary fairy tales.

[rubl]

On topic:

"The question is, is the Thai government aware of this yet?"

[Thaddeus]

Kudos for the article, many of them.

[Thaddeus]

On topic:

"The question is, is the Thai government aware of this yet?"

It is the elephant in the room, 2015 is going to be an interesting year.

[Thai at Heart]

Of course if you don't learn from history you are bound to make mistakes.

So if your history is bogus, are you bound to make mistakes?

[Plastic Brontosaurus]

Easiest would be to just annex them one by one. Cambodia should take only a few days to overrun. Then wait a year to let the dust settle, and then annex Laos, another job that should not take much time at all (maybe need to buy some more tanks, is all). A year later, Burma. That's bigger so may take a bit more time, but with enough tanks and strategic bombing of key installations should be easy to do too. Impose Thai culture and language on them, and suppress any dissent. Vietnam can be left alone, because the new superstate will have enough power to lean on them, and get them to comply with any demands or be annexed too. Problem solved.

[FarangTalk]

Can never be changed until the myths about their history are understood and accepted, which we know will never happen as their national identity is dependent on these myths and lies being perpetuated, believed and not questioned.

Easiest would be to just annex them one by one. Cambodia should take only a few days to overrun.

I know your post was tongue in cheek, but it should be noted that any escalation in conflict by Thailand would prompt Vietnam, the biggest military power in the region, to step in. Cambodia enjoys a close relationship with their neighbour to the East and I doubt if they would allow their billions spent on investment to be affected by Thailand's colonial ambitions.

[JCauto]

I thought it was April 20, not April 1. I wish Thamrongsak good luck in his search for a new job.

[caykay]

Great idea, now try finding a Thai person who actually knows anything about their own history. And as far as treating their neighbors better, they would probably have to first start treating themselves better. As far as I can tell, one of the most cherished national pastimes in Thai culture is sh**ting on poor people.

[ThomasBird67]

This article pretty much explains exactly why I am moving my Thai wife and children out of this country to avoid the abominable education system here. The only difference between Thailand and its neighbors is Thailand ended up on the right side of the fence with the United States during the cold war. Thailand was just as poor as its neighbors not too long ago. Nevermind the fact Thai history is disgraceful in its invasion and occupation of its neighbors until the French threw them out at the end of the 19th Century.

[Robby nz]

If what I hear is correct the relations with Cambodia are about to change in the near future.

Was told today that the daughter of the PT candidate for the upcoming by-election in the north is soon to marry the Cambodian PM.

Also seems that our PM will be attending as the equivalent of maid of honor and Thaksin as Uncle will also attend.

Was told this is on facebook, don't play on it myself but someone who does may be able to confirm or deny.

[Markaew]

Thais' superiority complex and condescending attitude, mistrust and even hatred towards its closest neighbours, two Thai experts said.

#1: Where are all these "experts" coming from in these articles?

#2: Thai's hatred is not limited to it's neighbors. It's to all non-Thais.

#3: The superiority complex and condescending attitude will take at least a generation to eradicate.

Summation: Nice talk. Makes a lot of sense. Never happen.

Edited April 20, 2013 by Markaew

[Baerboxer]

This article pretty much explains exactly why I am moving my Thai wife and children out of this country to avoid the abominable education system here. The only difference between Thailand and its neighbors is Thailand ended up on the right side of the fence with the United States during the cold war. Thailand was just as poor as its neighbors not too long ago. Nevermind the fact Thai history is disgraceful in its invasion and occupation of its neighbors until the French threw them out at the end of the 19th Century.

Very kind of the French................. or was it to further their own colonial aspirations? They milked far more from French Indo-China than the Thais ever did. The imposition of French rule and later collaboration by the Vichy government with Japan helped lay the ground for the horros the befell these unfortunate countries after WW11.

Thailand's switch to the US after collaborating outrageously with the Japanese, could be construed as being a very politcally savvy and smart thing to do. Depends whose interpretation of history you want to read.

All of my freinds complain about the education system in their own country, apart from the Scandanvians. There are good and bad schools/teachers here the same as anywhere. What is very questionable is the history curriculum. Like a lot of Asian countries, they hide reality when required to save face. See how many Japanese know much about WW11 - yet they have some very smart people.

[seminomadic]

This article pretty much explains exactly why I am moving my Thai wife and children out of this country to avoid the abominable education system here. The only difference between Thailand and its neighbors is Thailand ended up on the right side of the fence with the United States during the cold war. Thailand was just as poor as its neighbors not too long ago. Nevermind the fact Thai history is disgraceful in its invasion and occupation of its neighbors until the French threw them out at the end of the 19th Century.

Thailand's switch to the US after collaborating outrageously with the Japanese, could be construed as being a very politcally savvy and smart thing to do. Depends whose interpretation of history you want to read.

All of my freinds complain about the education system in their own country, apart from the Scandanvians. There are good and bad schools/teachers here the same as anywhere. What is very questionable is the history curriculum. Like a lot of Asian countries, they hide reality when required to save face. See how many Japanese know much about WW11 - yet they have some very smart people.

You know, if he were still with us today, I'll be motivational speaker Matt Foley would do a tremendous job of teaching the Japanese and southeast Asians their respective histories.

Edited April 20, 2013 by seminomadic

[allan michaud]

Thailand hub of nationalistic hatred.

This is one of the most intelligent articles I have ever read from a Thai and I must congratulate him. However, as he states it seems the chances of changing attitudes is going to be very hard and maybe impossible. As someone married to a Thai but living and working in Cambodia since 2001 I must say the Khmer's have a great many reasons to hate the Thai's (many in recent history too) and yet my wife has never experienced any difficulties here. I have witnessed first hand the abuse of Thai military and officials on poor Cambodians at the border and my opinion of the Thai's gets lower every year. I also work with many Khmer students and I must say I honestly think this country can move forward very quickly (once we see the end of the widely hated Hun Sen) because of how eager young Khmer's are to learn and improve themselves and their country. Unlike many Thai's they don't show utter disrespect, often contempt, for foreigners and the students don't mind putting the effort in, whereas many teachers I know in Thailand despair at the total lack of interest shown by their students.

A dramatic change in the ultra nationalistic history teaching in Thailand could go a long way to changing the direction I see Thailand headed in.

Great article.

[super22k]

My Thai girlfriend says Bangkok is the centre of the world and Thailand leads the world in most things. She is completely brainwashed and stupid.

[EyesWideOpen]

Thailand hub of nationalistic hatred.

This is one of the most intelligent articles I have ever read from a Thai and I must congratulate him. However, as he states it seems the chances of changing attitudes is going to be very hard and maybe impossible. As someone married to a Thai but living and working in Cambodia since 2001 I must say the Khmer's have a great many reasons to hate the Thai's (many in recent history too) and yet my wife has never experienced any difficulties here. I have witnessed first hand the abuse of Thai military and officials on poor Cambodians at the border and my opinion of the Thai's gets lower every year. I also work with many Khmer students and I must say I honestly think this country can move forward very quickly (once we see the end of the widely hated Hun Sen) because of how eager young Khmer's are to learn and improve themselves and their country. Unlike many Thai's they don't show utter disrespect, often contempt, for foreigners and the students don't mind putting the effort in, whereas many teachers I know in Thailand despair at the total lack of interest shown by their students.

A dramatic change in the ultra nationalistic history teaching in Thailand could go a long way to changing the direction I see Thailand headed in.

Great article.

Interesting point. Nothing impedes learning more than arrogance. I was visiting Ankor Wat a few years ago. I bought some water from a 12 year old Khmer girl working at a road side stand. She spoke perfect colloquial English. I asked her in astonishment why her English was so good. She said she sold drinks in the day time, and went to see a teacher who gave English lessons to children at night time. She said she paid a dollar a month for the lessons. If she is representative of many other Khmers, Thailand should start worrying...

When I asked her why she worked so hard to learn English, she told me simply that she felt if she spoke English very well, she could have a better life..... This is one of the people Thailand looks down upon ??