Appropriating a space for violence: State Buddhism in southern Thailand

In southern Thailand, monasteries once served as focal points for different communal identities to negotiate shared space and, with it, shared identities. However, since martial law was declared in 2004, Muslims in southern Thailand do not frequent monasteries. Instead, soldiers and police occupy mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Southeast Asian studies (Singapore) 2009-02, Vol.40 (1), p.33-57
Main Author: Jerryson, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abbots
Analysis
Area studies
Armed conflict
Asia
Asian studies
Blackouts
Buddhism
Buddhists
Church & state
Church and state
Civil War
Clergy
Ethnology
Generalities
Interfaith relations
Islam
Martial law
Militarism
Militarization
Military aspects
Military bases
Military personnel
Military service
Monasteries
Monks
Muslims
Police
Political aspects
Political violence
Provinces
Public spaces
Relations
Religion
Religion and politics
Religion, magic, witchcraft
Religions
Religions, beliefs, worships
Religious conflict
Resistance
Secularism
Social aspects
Soldiers
Thailand
Violence
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Summary:In southern Thailand, monasteries once served as focal points for different communal identities to negotiate shared space and, with it, shared identities. However, since martial law was declared in 2004, Muslims in southern Thailand do not frequent monasteries. Instead, soldiers and police occupy monastery buildings and protect the perimeters from attacks. In addition, there are now military monks, soldiers who are simultaneously ordained monks, who work to protect the monasteries. This article argues that the Thai State's militarisation of monasteries and the role of Buddhist monks fuel a religious dimension to the ongoing civil war in southern Thailand.
ISSN:0022-4634
1474-0680
DOI:10.1017/S0022463409000034