Radical Conservative Socialism: Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's Vision of a Perfect World Society and its Implication for Thailand's Political Culture
Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (1906-1993) has been regarded as a ‘modernist’ and ‘reformist’ both in terms of his rational reinterpretation of the teachings of the Buddha for individual life and the consequences of his approach towards Buddhism for a renewal of Thai society. This article analyses Buddhadasa�...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
2014
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| In: |
Politics, religion & ideology
Year: 2014, Volume: 15, Issue: 2, Pages: 244-263 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (1906-1993) has been regarded as a ‘modernist’ and ‘reformist’ both in terms of his rational reinterpretation of the teachings of the Buddha for individual life and the consequences of his approach towards Buddhism for a renewal of Thai society. This article analyses Buddhadasa's political philosophy - highlighted by his concept of ‘Dhammic Socialism’ - vis-à-vis the socialist ideas of Pridi Banomyong (1900-1983), the ideological father of the Thai revolution of 1932, and in relation to the confrontational character of Thai politics from the downfall of the absolute monarchy until today. It argues that both Buddhadasa's concept as well as its secular political counterparts in the Thai public sphere could and still can be characterised as variations of conservative Theravāda Buddhist thought. The ‘Teaching of the Elders’ leaves little room for deviation from the absolute and comprehensive truth laid down in the sacred Buddhist scriptures. Moreover, while competing political groups in Thailand make full use of the reservoir of such Buddhist ‘radical conservatism’ by dressing it in a secular garb, they too permit little if any compromise. |
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| ISSN: | 2156-7697 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Politics, religion & ideology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/21567689.2014.899063 |