Andrew MacGregor Marshall

A very good summary of the Thai monarchy that seeks to debunk certain popular nationalist claims about the benevolence and political neutrality of their royal family. The Thai government has one of the most extreme lèse-majesté in the world, which forces citizens to deal with issues of governance and succession in very roundabout manners. Marshall makes that conversation more comprehensible to those of us looking in by explaining some of the political conflicts the country is undergoing in a direct manner. The author may make a big deal of the fact that because he is so straight forward he can never step foot in Thailand again, and you can find a lot of gossip on him coming from those who clearly disagree with him politically, but even if the book is sensationalist (and that doesn't appear to be the case) it's a valuable contribution to straight talk in an area where such a thing is actively suppressed.… (más)

This a fascinating look at the politics behind a country that many people in the west know from food or documentaries about sex tourism.

Andrew MacGregor Marshall, a journalist, provides a clear explanation for the state-of-unrest that Thailand currently faces. In a country that still has extreme poverty in both rural and urban areas along side of an elite with super wealth, wide-spread internet access has leveled the playing field. Information access has helped the poor to become more politically aware leading to enormous tension for a culture used to unwavering devotion to the king.

Marshall is an engaging author, and he uses a wide variety of sources for his analysis covering religious and cultural issues as well as history.… (más)

Marshall's work is an invaluable summing up and examination of the political upheaval present in Thailand, from last century on through immediate history. Describing the balance of power (or rather, the sometimes lack of balance) between the people and the monarchy, and between what is said versus what actually happens, along with the frightening lack of freedom of speech, Marshall moves through recent history with an eye toward analyzing the current political crisis which has been ongoing and is now heightening as the country prepares for what will come with the current king's death, something which may not be far off, given his ill-health. With instability in the country likely to rise and with royal succession under heavy discussion, all of the matters this book tackles have been discussed only rarely because of Thailand's lese majeste law and the utter disconnect between what is said to be happening and what is actually occurring. This author, and this work, has cut through that confusion to attempt an in-depth analysis.

For any reader interested in current global politics, in free speech, or in struggles for democracy, this is worth reading, and of course, it will be of interest to readers who want more understanding of the political and cultural climate in Thailand. Marshall's work is smart and well-researched, and his style is both engaging and clear. He carefully documents the peoples' ignored struggles for democracy here, just as he explores the reason that it is still a struggle, and political crisis so clearly in view.

All together, this is a stunning and engaging piece of journalism, and well worth the time for anyone interested.… (más)