The past few weeks I have been doing a lot of reading on Thai history and culture. I am amazed at how much I have learned. Right now, though, I am still a newbie. I can only remember and understand general trends. I can't name any kings or give any details of their reigns, but I am slowly starting to understand the general course of Thai history (at least for the past few hundred years) and a little more realistic view on Thai society (as opposed to what the average tourist sees).
For example, one of the more unpleasant chapters in Thai history took place on October 6, 1976. On that day, students at Thammasat University in Bangkok were peacefully protesting the un-democratic government when a heavily armed mob surrounded the students trapping them and killed dozens by shooting, beating, burning, and hanging them from the trees.
I learned about some of the details of this horrific scene from an article called Noise at the Edge of Silence in the University of Wisconsin alumni website. It centered on Thongchai Winichakul, who was one of the student leaders at Thammasat at the time and is now a Thai Studies professor at UW-Madison. Since I deal with college-aged Thai students on a daily basis, it is hard for me to imagine what mental demons Dr. Thongchai has had to fight after being directly involved in an experience like this one. Needless to say, I was very touched by the article.
How horrific!!!
With a doctorate in Southeast Asian studies, are there varying focuses? i.e. historical periods, sociology, psychology, economics, etc.
Love you!!
Yes, from what I can tell you can specialize.
Actually, often the SE Asian part of it is just a specialization itself. So you would get a PhD in History or Economics or Public Policy and have a specialization (kinda like a minor) in SE Asian studies.
I'm still doing research on it for now, to try to figure out the best way for me to approach it.