Pridi on Pridi. Selected Writings on Life, Politics, and Society

Pridi Banomyong (1900-83) was one of the greatest figures in twentieth-century Thailand. At the age of just twenty-seven, he started the movement which led to the 1932 revolution against Thailand's absolute monarchy. Through the 1930s, he introduced a wide range of reforms in law, local administration, economic policy, and foreign affairs. During the Second World War, he formed the Seri Thai resistance movement against the Japanese occupation. After the war, he served briefly as prime minister and became deeply involved in the politics of the Asian region during decolonization. From 1947 onwards, Pridi was opposed by US-backed militarists who seized power by coup, murdered his associates, overturned many of his liberal reforms, and established dictatorial rule. In 1949 he fled into exile and never returned. Pridi by Pridi contains nineteen selections from Pridi's writings, speeches, and interviews which focus on his personal background and his active political career from 1932 to 1949. They include a new translation of the outline economic plan of 1932, which still excites controversy today. They also include first-ever English translations of Pridi's most important writings about the 1932 revolution, the Seri Thai movement, the monarchy, and his contemporaries. Part I: Before the Revolution 29 1. The Banomyong Family 34 2. The Royal Grant of Surname Na Pombejra 43 3. Excerpts from: Some Experiences and Opinions of Senior Statesman Pridi Banomyong (1981) 48 4. Excerpts from: Concise Autobiography of Nai Pridi Banomyong (1983) 59 5. Commentarz on Administrative Law (1932) 64 6. Levcture on Adnminstrative Law (1932) 71 Part II: The Revolution 89 7. Announcement of the People’s Party No.1 (1932) 98 8. Provisional Constitution of the Kingdom of Siam, 1932 101 9. Letter from Pridi to Phoonsuk, 3 July 1932 108 10. Outline Economic Plan (1933) 111 11. Some Aspects of the Establishment of the People’s Party and Democracy (1972) 152 12. The People’s Party and the Democratic Revolution Of 24 June (1982) 177 Part III: After the Revolution 199 13. Excerpt from: Concise Autography of Nai Pridi Banomyong (1983) 206 14. Speeches (1934-36) 211 15. Establishment of the Anti-Japan Resistance Movement and Seri Thai (1981) 225 16. What Happened inside the Regency Council (1972) 238 17. Speech of Nai Pridi Banomyong (1946) 259 18. Uphold the Aim for full Democracy of the Heroes Of 14 October (1973) 262 19. Excerpts from: My Chequered Life and My Twenty-One Years of Exile in People’s China (1972) 290 Pridi Banomyong (1900-83) was one of the greatest figures in twentieth-century Thailand. This title contains nineteen selections from Pridi's writings, speeches, and interviews which focus on his personal background and his active political career from 1932 to 1949. It also includes a fresh translation of the "outline economic plan" of 1932.