Network Monarchy as Euphoric Couplet

Since the publication of my article “Network monarchy and crises of legitimacy in Thailand” (Pacific Review, 2005), network monarchy has become an influential concept in the analysis of Thailand’s politics. Though widely adopted, the argument has also spawned rival or complementary coinings, ranging from “autonomous political networks” (Harris) to “working towards the monarchy” (Uenaldi), and the “deep state” (Merieau); as well as the “parallel state” and the “monarchized military” (Chambers and Napisa). This article revisits the argument, elaborates on the meanings of the original term and makes a case for network monarchy’s continuing salience in the Tenth Reign.

网络君主制作为耐人寻味的双词组合

关键词：网络；君主制；普密蓬；他信；咖啡。

自从我发表“网络君主制与泰国的合法性危机”（《太平洋评论》，2005年）以来，网络君主制已成为泰国政治分析中一个颇有影响力的概念。尽管得到广泛的采纳，我的论点却也催生了对立或者补充性的新术语，包括“自主政治网络”（Harris）、“向君主制发展”（Uenaldi）、“深层政府” （Merieau），以及“并行政府”和“君主化军队” (Chambers and Napisa)。 本论文重温了早期的论点，对其最初概念的涵义进行了阐述，并表明拉玛十世执政下泰国仍继续保持着显著的网络君主制特征。

Translated from English by Li Guo