Problems of Modernization in Siam
Modernization in Thailand demanded allegiance to the western ways of governance, religion and education. These were against the traditional Buddhism beliefs which stood for harmonious coexistence. Those who opposed the westerner’s view of how the country should be run like Pridi were disliked. Most of the leaders under the modern system used their power to glorify themselves at the expense of other citizens. There were always attempts in the political, military and business circles to demean the constitution. After Pridi was overthrown there was a deviation in the concept of peace, democracy and justice. He fought for democracy which guaranteed equality, liberty and independence for all (Sivaraksa 103-104).
Democracy lost its meaning from the reign of King Rama V. The Thais were forced to dress like the westerners. They were forced to decorate their houses the western way, their eating ways were altered by force, and their names were changed. They had to worship the flag every morning and dictatorship was considered the proper way of leadership (Sivaraksa 99).
There was change in the kind of art which appeared to abolish the Thai traditions. These changes were against the Thai tradition was contradicted by the western teachings and cultures. Modernity appeared to uproot the Thai traditional way of life and replace it with the western way of life. People were forced to dress in a different way, the tradition of music when working and harvesting reduced and disappeared. To the people, tradition appeared to ruin their moral conduct that encouraged the natural existence in harmony (Sivaraksa 109).
‘Civilization’ according to the westerners was living in the cities while in the past; Thais living...
... middle of paper ...
...claim its place in society if the leaders do what is right and show the world (Sivaraksa 121).
In the documentary Buddha’s Lost Children, Kruh Bah adopts orphans and takes care of them in a region where drug addiction is a major threat. He helps them to be self-reliant by teaching them how to clean themselves and also teach them how to take care of the horses. He also ensures that all the children have a task to perform each day. He nurtures the children in a way that as they grow they learn to take care of one another (Verkerk).
This approach of self-reliance portrayed in Buddha’s Lost Children, is stressed in Sivaraksa work when he states that it as demonstrated under skills.
Works Cited
Buddha's Lost Children. Dir. Mark Verkerk. 2006.
Sivaraksa, Sulak . Conflict, Culture, Change: Engaged Buddhism in a Globalizing World. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2005.
Yu, Han. “Memorial on Buddhism”. Making of the Modern World 12: Classical & Medieval Tradition. Trans. Richard F. Burton. Ed. Janet Smarr. La Jolla: University Readers, 2012. 111-112. Print.
24 Amore, Roy C. and Julia Ching. The Buddhist Tradition. In Willard G. Oxtoby, Ed. World Religions: Eastern Traditions. P. 221
Bronkhorst, Johannes. Buddhism in the Shadow of Brahmanism. Leiden: Brill, 2011. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost (accessed December 5, 2013).
Takagi, Dana Y. "Form and Emptiness: Globalization, Liberalism, and Buddhism in the West." Amerasia Journal 34.1 (2008): 1-29. Print.
The coexistence of religions is not a custom of certain regions of the world, and dialogue is required by this emerging reality, which is inscribed in relations of coexistence highlighted by the need for mutual understanding, engagement, and cooperation across denominational boundaries. In his article “Thoughts on why, How, and What Buddhists Can Learn from Christian Theologians” John Makransky, an ordained Tibetan Buddhist and ...
Larry A. Samovar, Richard E. Porter, Edwin R. McDaniel, “Buddhism”, communication between cultures, pg 139-145.
Ford, Stephen. "Review of Buddhism." Tutorial workshop for Introduction to Religion Class at York University. Toronto. 21 Feb. 2005.
The increased exposure to globalisation through technology and westernisation has brought about much change in Buddhism. However, it has also placed strains on the belief system, as Buddhists attempt to uphold the traditional views and ideologies. The spread of Buddhism to Asian countries and more currently western countries have led to changes of its traditions and values concerning gender, technology usage, its ability to adapt to society as well as their place in society.
16. “The Direction of Buddhism in America today” UrbanDharma. Accessed on April 20, 2014. http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma5/tension2.html
Human history is pock-marked with innumerable wars and revolutions. The cause for most of the revolutions has been the choice of freedom. The opportunity to live a life without physical, mental or emotional restrictions has been and still is of supreme importance to man. This has resulted in the most widely followed discipline of political governance: Democracy.
This theory also heavily relies on the idea that in order to modernize, the country must Westernize and lose their traditional culture. It is then proposed that although in present day many societies are modern, its does not mean they are all the same.
Thailand implements a controlled floating exchange rate system, pricing to market forces on the Thai baht, and the Thai central bank would only intervene in the market when necessary, in order to avoid excessive exchange rate volatility to the expected impact of economic policies. At present, the global economic slowdown, domestic demand is not good in Thailand. In order to keep the country's export competitiveness, the Bank of Thailand is more inclined to let the baht weaken.
Sach, Jacky. The Everything Buddhism Book: Learn the Ancient Traditions and Apply Them to Modern Life. Avon, MA: Adams Media Corporation, 2003. Print.
The relationship and cooperation in handling the issue in Southern Thailand between Malaysia and Thailand government since a long time ago, has become disappointed, frustration and unsatisfied. This is might be best description that has been looked up since the working relations between past Thai governments and their Malaysian counterparts was comes to Southern Thailand (Thanet, 2013). For the Thailand government, cooperation with the Malaysian authorities is really needed while in dealing with the separatist insurgents that often to the slip across the porous border from Thailand. Meanwhile, for the Malaysian side, through the sharing of same ethnicity and Islamic religion in the Southern Thai Muslims, was means that their politicians ought to have a key role to play in understanding and resolving insurgency issues in Southern Thailand. Therefore, it might can be seem in logically think that, without the help by the Malaysian government, the issues that regards to Muslim separatist moments in the Deep South would be difficul...
To explore issues of modernization theory, the essay will first attempt to highlight the meaning of the term modernization from different perspectives, which is then followed by a discussion of the context in which the theory developed. The main aim of this paper is discuss the limitations of modernization theory. Then it will focus on some basic objections embedded in the theory that offer critiques from many development studies scholars. This will be done by focusing on the key points which are social, and cultural significances. The last step of the essay will be the idea of the writer about modernization theory.