Buddhism, Imperialism and War: Burma and Thailand in Modern History

The book is organized into six main chapters. Chapter 1, “Early Buddhist Burma and Thailand,” surveys the geographical and cultural setting, Buddhist beginnings in Burma and Thailand, the rise of Pagan, the development of Thai Buddhism, thirteenth-century Burmese Buddhism, and the growth of Buddhist institutions in Burma and the Lan-na kingdom. Chapter 2, “Consequences of Contact with Europe,” studies early European contact with Thailand and Burma, Theravāda kings and cults, Thai and Burmese responses to Europeans, missionary activity, and the changing condition of Buddhism under outside pressure. Chapter 3, “The Clash of Empires: 1782–1900,” compares Burmese and Thai Buddhism during a period of imperial expansion, focusing on Bangkok, Mandalay, Mindon, the fall of the Burmese Buddhist kingdom, and Thai religious nonconformity. Chapter 4, “The Growth of Nationalism: 1900–1945,” examines monastic reform, Burmese nationalism, Thai nationalism, Sangha administration, constitutional change, and Japanese rule. Chapter 5, “Buddhism and Nationalism in the Post-War World,” analyzes tradition and modernity, Burmese Buddhist values, socialism, capitalism, environmental issues, the Thai Sangha as state instrument, U Nu’s Buddhist politics, and the later role of Buddhism in Burma. Chapter 6, “Buddhists at War,” considers Buddhist attitudes toward peace, military virtues, kingship, aggression, and the relationship between religion, monarchy, and national loyalty.