PETE

HUMANITIES FACTSHEET

MONARCHY
WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE BEFORE THAILANDS SHIFT IN IDEOLOGY?

Pre-1932 Absolute Monarchy

Thailand was ruled under absolute monarchs since 1238. Thailands rst absolute monarch was Phra Ruang Sri Indraditya. The idea of an absolute monarch stemmed from beliefs in Hinduism and Bhuddism. The monarch had titles relating them to incarnations of gods from Hinduism and later Bhuddism. Several ceremonies and rituals were formed. The people worship them as gods and there were rules regulating how normal citizens must interact with them. Under the rule of the Chakri dynasty, Thailand saw its largest growth in culture, economy, and military.

Post 1932 Democracy

After the great changes brought about by the Chakri dynasty, Thailands people felt that it was ready for a change in ideology. Lead by a group of foreign educated revolution in 1932. The late King Prajadhipok openly embraced the new law, politics, philosophy, commercialism, education and medicine for a more modern Thailand. This

students, the Promoters change still lasts today. brought about a bloodless

Lese-Majesty
1908 until today. The statement "The King shall be enthroned in a position of revered worship and shall not be violated. No person shall expose the King to any sort of accusation or action. has been used as a weapon politicians use to eliminate their competition because of its vague wording. The most severe consequences of this crime is 15 years of imprisonment.

Insulting the monarch has been a crime in Thailand since the rst monarch in

a comparison between ideologies

Absolute Monarchy Constitutional - Monarchs are responsible Monarchy
- The monarch is a representation of the - They can create all the laws and are above the law if country. They have very little they want to. power over their nation. - They can sentence anyone to execution if they wish. - The people elect a government party that controls most of the state. for the whole nation.

DID YOU KNOW?

The consequence for lese-majesty in thailand is 15 years of imprisonment? King bhumibhol st King Bhumibol Adulyadej has stated himself that he does not mind criticism and that "If the king can do no wrong, it is akin to looking down upon him because the king is not being treated as a human being. But the King can do wrong," A 27 year old man was pelted with popcorn when he refused to stand up for the anthem before the showing of a movie. Harry Nicolaides, an Australian author was arrested on August 2005, for publishing a book about the royal familys private lives.

- The military answer to the monarch and can be - Their power over the state commanded to do anything. has been given to the ruling government. - The monarch can choose their successor. - The law is signed by the government and the - In conclusion, the monarch monarch lives under the has absolute rule over the law. nation and can do anything they want, wether that - The control of the military is would be driving a nation to given to the government rather than the monarch. its success or its fall. - The monarch carries out national ceremonies.

Works Cited
"." Absolute Monarchy. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2012. <http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/glossary/absmonarch.html>. "Difference Between Absolute Monarchy and Constitutional Monarchy | Difference Between | Absolute Monarchy vs Constitutional Monarchy." Difference Between Absolute Monarchy and Constitutional Monarchy | Difference Between | Absolute Monarchy vs Constitutional Monarchy. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2012. <http://www.differencebetween.net/ miscellaneous/politics/difference-between-absolute-monarchy-and-constitutional-monarchy/>. "The Monarchy Today What Is Constitutional Monarchy?" The Monarchy Today What Is Constitutional Monarchy? N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2012. <http://www.royal.gov.uk/monarchuk/howthemonarchyworks/whatisconstitutionalmonarchy.aspx>. "The Role of the Monarchy." The Role of the Monarchy. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2012. <http://www.royal.gov.uk/monarchuk/ howthemonarchyworks/howthemonarchyworks.aspx>. Hookway, James. "In Thailand, Insulting the King Can Mean 15 Years in Jail." The Wall Street Journal, n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122411457349338545.html>.