The Lost Territories explores the legacy of defeat and victimhood in the production of Thai historiography and the formation of national identity. Unlike Royal-Nationalist narratives, which celebrate the kingdom’s eternal independence, National Humiliation historiography presents Thailand’s past as a series of emasculating encounters with the West. The 1893 Franco-Siamese forms the cornerstone of National Humiliation discourse since it resulted in the amputation of the lost territories from the nation-body. Throughout the twentieth century, maps of the lost territories have instilled each new ... More

The Lost Territories explores the legacy of defeat and victimhood in the production of Thai historiography and the formation of national identity. Unlike Royal-Nationalist narratives, which celebrate the kingdom’s eternal independence, National Humiliation historiography presents Thailand’s past as a series of emasculating encounters with the West. The 1893 Franco-Siamese forms the cornerstone of National Humiliation discourse since it resulted in the amputation of the lost territories from the nation-body. Throughout the twentieth century, maps of the lost territories have instilled each new generation with a sense of shame owing to the country’s decline from regional power to European client state. National Humiliation narratives have generated suspicion and hostility towards neighboring countries by misinforming the Thai public regarding past border conflicts. The military has used related imagery to maintain a central role in politics while pursuing an expansionist foreign policy agenda. National Humiliation continues to be exploited by state and civic authorities to prey on anxieties regarding Thai independence and to promote an exclusive vision of national unity.