From Victory to Democracy

The “Democracy” in Thailand’s Victory Monument

Bibliographic Data

ID14823346
AuthorsGil Turingan (0000-0002-8836-3353, Chulalongkorn University, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume27
Issue1
Pages1-21
Publication date2024-10-17
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueManusya Journal of Humanities (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0859-9920 • E-ISSN: 2665-9077
PublisherWalter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1163/26659077-20242710
OpenAlexW4403789554
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited2

This paper discusses the symbolic transformation of Thailand’s Victory Monument in the Thai public memory, from embodying militarism to representing the complicated concept of Thai democracy. In the beginning, the monument had an indirect connection to democracy. However, due to the spatial agency, such as protest activities occupying this structure, it has turned into one of Bangkok’s democratic spaces. By looking at the stories of contentious politics and narratives surrounding this structure, this study reveals that the development of the Victory Monument’s meanings mirrors the democratic struggles of the Thai people. It also applies prevailing discourses on Thai democracy to elucidate the connection between the monument and democratic movements. This research provides an understanding of Thailand’s democratic struggles through a different lens, promotes historical awareness, and preserves public memory by emphasizing the role of public monuments in Thai history, society, and democracy

Ancient history · Democracy · Political science · Politics · Victory · Cambodian History and Society · History · Law · Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies · Vietnamese History and Culture Studies

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