Waiting for a righteous ruler: the Karen royal imaginary in Thailand and Burma
Karen believe they are like orphans without a king and leader; royalty often appear in their myths, legends and prophecies. Buddhist Karen await the next Buddha, Ariya Metteya - preceded by a righteous Karen leader - who shall cleanse the world. This paper explores the Karen imaginary and notions of...
| Published in: | Journal of Southeast Asian studies |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Cambridge Univ. Press
2012
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| In: |
Journal of Southeast Asian studies
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| Further subjects: | B
Myanmar
B Buddhism B Karen B Traditional culture B Thailand B Ethnic group B Political leadership B Thailand Myanmar Karen Volksgruppe / Ethnische Bevölkerungsgruppe Traditionelle Kultur Nobility Politische Führung (Gruppe) Buddhism |
| Summary: | Karen believe they are like orphans without a king and leader; royalty often appear in their myths, legends and prophecies. Buddhist Karen await the next Buddha, Ariya Metteya - preceded by a righteous Karen leader - who shall cleanse the world. This paper explores the Karen imaginary and notions of royalty as preconditions for a new era governed by Buddhist ethics that will bring peace and prosperity. This imaginary combines religion and politics in a millenarian model of the world as seen from the margins of traditional kingdoms and modern nation-states - what James Scott has termed ‘non-state spaces’. The Karen oscillate between defensive and offensive strategies, as shown in several examples. Is this imaginary a premodern phenomenon typical of marginalised minorities or perhaps also part of a modern, global imaginary of a better future? The concept of morally enchanted leadership is discussed in relation to states, nations and globalisation. (J Southeast Asian Stud/GIGA) |
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| ISSN: | 0022-4634 |
| Contains: | In: Journal of Southeast Asian studies
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