Thammasat University

This course examines an aspect of Thai social life often overlooked although central to the everyday practical lives and visual experiences of Thais. The Buddha image presiding over the Vihara, or Ubosot of a temple, almost always has a name and a story connected to it. The belief and ritual practices surrounding the image make it a practically central component of the life of a Buddhist community.  

And yet such images have scarcely excited much interest beyond the descriptive art historical approach. This selected topic explores the Buddha Images of Thailand and evaluates the power that these images have over what it means to be a member of a community, of what it means to be Thai and what it means to exert power, how they connect the faithful not only with a Buddhist past in northern India but with histories of local communities and great kingdoms alike.  

Above all, Buddha Images of Thailand offers another way to view the landscape of Thailand as sacred geography or Buddhascape. Although an art historical approach is utilized, this course foregrounds and examines the social and political aspects of the image, placing it in its wider historical context. 

This course discusses international relations of Thailand in different eras by examining factors and processes in policy making, policy planning and foreign policy implementation,

This course provides an overview of multilateralism and international organizations after World War II, examining collaboration between countries in areas such as peace and security, human rights, and monetary policy and economics. Students are introduced to the concept of world order and global governance through multilateralism and will examine the history, structures, and functions of international organizations including the role of major powers and other countries in the international arena.

This course navigates the contemporary business landscape of Thailand by examining entrepreneurship in relation to the country's business culture of management and leadership, legal infrastructure, taxation, human capital, and domestic and established foreign markets. Students will develop skills in critical thinking, data analysis, presentation skills, and rhetoric using a wide variety of media and will engage with current business trends and standards by designing and executing their own research projects,

This course explores Thailand's roles in the international arena from 1945 to the present. The emphasis is on Thailand's foreign policy and relations with major powers such as the United States, Japan, China, and neighboring Southeast Asian countries. Topics include the background of Thai foreign affairs, Thai foreign policy towards major powers, and Thai foreign policy towards neighboring countries in South East Asia.