On the morning of October 16th, 2020, Zhou Fangye, Associate Research Professor at the National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), gave a lecture entitled “Contemporary Research on Thailand’s Politics: Structure and Methodology” to more than 10 doctorate candidates engaged in Southeast Asian studies at Institute of International and Area Studies, Tsinghua University (IIAS-THU) in Auditorium 205 of the Central Main Building of Tsinghua University, in addition to over 70 online participants. It is also the second session of IIAS’ “Area Studies Across the Boundaries: Southeast Asian Studies” Lecture Series.
Prof. Zhou drilled down into the characteristics and difficulties of country studies in the lecture, and thus led to three stages of contemporary research on Thailand’s politics namely, the stage of international issue enthusiasts with the accumulation of basic knowledge, the stage of universal research on national politics and the stage of up-to-date evaluation and prediction based on targeted paradigms.
Prof. Zhou pointed out that the research paths of Thailand’s politics are diversified, and one of the analytical frameworks is the “concentric circle” model of political power structure. Later, Prof. Zhou used this model to elaborate the historical and logical evolution, tension and uncertainties of Thailand’s political power structure, the interactions among Thailand’s political power groups and the factional power transfer of Thailand’s military groups. Finally, he also shared some insights on Thailand’s political prospects.
In the interactive Q&A session, Prof. Zhou answered a few questions concerning how to acquire and interpret data. Both doctorate candidates at the site and online participants agreed that the research models and methodology shared by Prof. Zhou were highly instructive and inspiring.
Holding PhD in Politics from the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Prof. Zhou Fangye now serves as Associate Research Professor at the National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He also acts as Honorary Director of Thailand Institute of Yunnan Academy of South East Asian and South Asian Studies and Member of the Editorial Board of Southeast Asian Studies. His academic publications include Paths and Methodology of Political Environment Research: A Comparative Study of Southeast Asian Countries in the Context of the “Belt and Road” Initiative and Kingship, Authoritarianism and Timocracy: Thailand’s Political Modernization Process. His research interest focuses on social and political transformation in Southeast Asia.
By: Qin Yi
