Thailand Arrests a World-Leading Expert on Thailand. Why?

Paul Chambers has lived and/or worked in Thailand for three decades. In that time, he has become one of the world’s leading authorities on the country, and in particular on relations within the powerful military, on authoritarianism, on ties between the army and civilian politicians, and on links between the military and the monarchy. (Remember that, although Thailand technically has a constitutional monarchy the king wields vast powers over the military, over politics, and over the economy).

He has taught courses, over decades, about these themes at several Thai universities, including Chulalongkorn University (an elite school), Payap University, and now Naresuan University. Over the years, he also has published multiple books and articles about these very themes. They are sensitive topics in Thailand, but he continued to cover them with no repercussions. Then, on April 9, he was suddenly charged with lese majeste, or insulting the monarchy, and put in jail, although he later got bail.  Lese majeste cases can carry massive jail time – Chambers faces 15 years in prison – and it is very uncommon for Thailand to pursue them against foreigners, let alone academics. After so many years covering the military and other Thai institutions, why has Chambers now been targeted? For more on his case, and why it happened now, see my new article for World Politics Review.