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The Revival of Buddhist Nationalism in Thailand and Its Adverse Impact on Religious Freedom

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2021

Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang
Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang*
Affiliation:
Chulalongkorn University
*
E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Triggered by the sense of crisis, the Thai state and Thai Buddhism are renewing their traditional relationship kindled by the monarch-led reform over a century ago. Thai Buddhism is reviving its lost aura and hegemony while the political conservatives are looking for legitimacy and collective identity in a time of democratic regression. The result is the rise of the Buddhist-nationalistic movement, Buddhist-as-Thainess notion. The phenomenon has grown more mainstream in recent years. These extreme Buddhists pressure the government to adopt a new constitutional relationship that brings the two entities closer to a full establishment. They also target both religious minorities as well as non-mainstream Buddhists. The revival of Buddhist nationalism foretells rising tension as well as diminishing religious freedom.

Keywords

Thai Buddhismroyalist nationalismThai ConstitutionDhammakayaanti-Muslim movement
Type
Religious Nationalism and Religious Freedom in Asia
Information
Asian Journal of Law and Society , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , February 2021 , pp. 72 - 87
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Asian Journal of Law and Society

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