The Muslims in Thailand
A Review
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 14780131 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Omar Farouk Bajunid Omar Farouk Bajunid (Hiroshima City University), Omar Farouk Bajunid (Hiroshima International University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1999 |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 210-234 |
| Publication date | 1999-01-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Tōnan Ajia Kenkyū/Tonan ajia kenkyu (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0563-8682 • E-ISSN: 2424-1377 |
| Publisher | Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.20495/tak.37.2_210 |
| OpenAlex | W2461602221 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 5 |
The tendency to portray Thailand as being overwhelmingly Buddhist in character and composition has tended to overshadow the role of its non-Buddhist minorities. Histori cally, politically and culturally the Muslims have been an integral part of Thailand for centuries. Islam is not only the second largest religion in the kingdom but also enjoys royal and official patronage. But yet, a review of existing works would reveal serious gaps in the academic treatment of the subject. The main corpus of literature on the Muslims tends to view them as a marginalized border minority rather than a well integrated national minority. Invariably it is the role of the Malay-Muslim segment of the Muslim population that is highlighted rather than the others. In contrast to this dominant trend this article offers a description of the national position of the Muslims in the modern Thai polity. It begins with a literature review and then proceeds to trace the history of the Muslims in the Thai kingdom. Their contemporary sociological profile and political role is subsequently described. The article concludes with suggestions on ways in which further research and documentation on the Muslims in Thailand could be undertaken to promote a comprehensive understanding of their actual role in Thailand. One of the most common mistakes many people make when looking at Thailand is to imagine that it is a homogeneous Thai-Buddhist state, pure and simple. Thailand has been invariably portrayed in academic as well as popular literature as a Thai-Buddhist country. The state religion in Thailand is Buddhism but that does not necessarily mean that all Thais are Buddhists. Although it is true that compared to most of Southeast Asia, the degree of cultural and ethnic homogeneity appears more pronounced in Thailand, like the rest of the region, Thailand too is a multi-ethnic state and has its own share of ethno-cultural and religious pluralism. In principle, the people of Thailand enjoy religious freedom. Notwithstanding the frequent constitutional modifications and revisions that have occurred since the coup of 1932, every new Thai constitution has consistently upheld the principle of freedom of conscience. Even military governments which often put aside the constitution rarely
Buddhism · Ethnic group · Islam · Malay · Political science · Politics · Polity · Population · Social science · Sociology · Asian Geopolitics and Ethnography · Asian Studies and History · Demography · Gender Studies · History · Law · Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies
| Citations per year | 0.1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2005 - 2008 (4) |
| Highly cited | No |