King Naresuan

challenged the
Burmese viceroy
to an elephant
fight and killed
him on the
elephants
neck

The viceroys
elephant was hurt
and stopped
walking causing
him to be shot by
the Siamese
army

History and Intercultural

Communication
Oras Phongpanangam

Why study history?

Cant

we all move on?

->

past did happen

->

past influences who we are: our identity

->

past affects the way we look at ourselves and

others

Traditional histories: documented

Political histories

Intellectual histories

Social histories

Political histories

Past through politicians/monarchs

Choices of presidents

Royal works of kings

Intellectual histories

Development of knowledge/art

How we come to view the world the

way we do today

Development of Calculus

Renaissance

Development of democracy

Social History

Study the behavior of people

How people viewed the world in the past

Non-mainstream histories

Family histories

Colonial histories

Cultural-group histories

Racial histories

National histories

Diasporic histories

Religious histories

Gender histories

Socioeconomic class
histories

Sexual orientation histories

Non-mainstream histories

Family histories

Colonial histories

Cultural-group histories

Racial histories

National histories

Diasporic histories

Religious histories

Gender histories

Socioeconomic class
histories

Sexual orientation histories

Colonial Histories

Was Thailand a colony?

Semi-colony

Extraterritoriality: foreigners were not tried in Thai

court

Foreigners managing the state bank, army, etc.

Cultural-group/National/Religious
histories

Buddhism for Thailand?

South Thailand insurgency

Former: Sultanate of Patani with its own language, religions,

etc.

1785: Defeated by Siam

1934 (Plaek): National Culture Act -> forced cultural

assimilation

Present: ..

So far

history &

Intercul

What does this have to do with us?

1) Histories shape our identity

Understand who we are -> know our culture

2) Different identities in groups

Different groups view the same history differently

We have to be careful of others cultural background

(stemming from their histories)

Franco-Thai War (Battle of Ko Chang) (1940-1941)

https://en.wikipedia.org/w
iki/Battle_of_Ko_Chang

The report claimed the

crew ofLamottePicquetspent all of the
following night repairing
the damage. Such claims
are not reflected in any
French documentation,
nor in the ships' logs.

https://th.wikipedia.org/w
iki/

3) Balance past and future

Ancient Burmese wars -> hate Burmese?

Treaties with Britain, France -> hate Europians?

Japan invasion in WWII -> hate Japanese?

Summary

There are more than one histories empowering different

cultural identities

Different cultural groups may view histories differently

Balance past and future