Buddhism and Political Legitimacy

The book opens with a conceptual discussion of religion, politics, socio-political change, and political legitimacy. It explains the analytical framework used to study how Buddhism and the Sangha are mobilized in response to political change, especially in societies where religious values remain deeply embedded in social structure and national identity. The second chapter examines Buddhism’s relationship with society and politics. It discusses the Dhamma as a social and moral force, the distinction between doctrinal and popular Buddhism, the role of Buddhist teachings in responding to social change, and the Buddhist concept of political authority. The chapter presents Buddhist kingship as grounded in righteousness, moral conduct, merit, and responsibility for social order. The third and fourth chapters focus on Thailand. They trace the legitimation of royal power through Buddhism from Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Thonburi, and Bangkok, then analyze modern legitimacy crises and the political mobilization of Buddhism for national integration, administrative stability, and development. The fifth and sixth chapters examine Laos, especially the relationship between political change, traditional Buddhism, colonialism, the Lao Sangha, and socialist ideology. The seventh chapter studies Cambodia, including Sihanouk’s Buddhist socialism, Lon Nol’s political mobilization of Buddhism, the Khmer Rouge period, and the preservation of Buddhism under the Heng Samrin government. The conclusion synthesizes the comparative argument that Buddhism has remained a major source of political legitimacy, social cohesion, and ideological adaptation in mainland Southeast Asia.