Virtual Thailand: The Media and Cultural Politics in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore (Rethinking Southeast Asia)

Written by an established expert on Thailand, this is one of the first books to fully investigate the Thai media's role during the Thaksin government's first term. Incorporating political economy and media theory, the book provides a unique insight into globalization in Southeast Asia, analyzing the role of communications and media in regional cultural politics. Examining the period from the mid 1990s, Lewis makes a sustained comparison between Thailand and its neighbouring countries in relation to the media, business, politics and popular culture. Covering issues including business development, tourism, the Thai movie industry and the war on terror, the book argues that globalization as it relates to media, can be patterned on Thai experiences. Rethinking Southeast Asia; Contents; List of Plates and tables; Plates; Tables; Preface; Acknowledgements; Acronyms and abbreviations; International; Southeast Asia; Introduction; 1 Singapore, KL and Bangkok as rival communications centres; Communications regionalism and techno-nationalism; Singapore: the price of being an 'intelligent island'; Kuala Lumpur: the Malaysian Multimedia Super Corridor; Bangkok: a capital of consumer desire; The limits to techno-nationalism; 2 Development and democratization; Singapore, Malaysia and the crisis Incorporating political economy and media theory, Lewis provides a unique insight into globalization in Southeast Asia, analyzing the role of communications and media in regional cultural politics.