A Genealogy of Bamboo Diplomacy: The Politics of Detente with Russia and China.

• Date: 01 August 2022
• Author: Eaksittipong, Sittithep
• Published date: 01 August 2022
• Author: Eaksittipong, Sittithep

A Genealogy of Bamboo Diplomacy: The Politics of Detente with Russia and China. By Jittipat Poonkham. Canberra, Australia: ANU Press, 2022. Softcover: 325pp.

The world of Thai and English writings on Thai diplomacy is a peculiar one. Consider these oddities. First, almost all major studies, regardless of the author's background (be they Thai or non-Thai), share the common assumption that Thai diplomatic practice is conditioned by a pragmatic "bending with the wind" approach. Second, even critical scholars and experienced policymakers assume that this so-called "bending with the wind" approach--sometimes referred to as "bamboo diplomacy"--is a unique characteristic of Thai diplomacy. Third, there is a widely held belief that "bamboo diplomacy" has been Thailand's favoured diplomatic practice since the foundation of the country as a modern nation-state, and that the practice has remained unchanged since then. To think outside this dominant paradigm is a tectonic shift. However, A Genealogy of Bamboo Diplomacy has dared to do it. It is therefore unsurprising that this fascinating book has aroused great interest and been warmly welcomed by academics and policymakers alike.

Jittipat Poonkham argues that it is necessary to question the bamboo diplomacy paradigm as "it serves not...