Other dimensions to this topic include the gendered nature of public space, largely dominated by men, and the role Buddhism might play in discouraging the participation of women in that space. This statement by no means exhausts the themes and questions that might be raised by papers in this panel. Knowledge Niels Mulder Civil society as the realm of autonomous citizens who desire to influence, or even oppose, the affairs of state is a modern phenomenon that has only recently arisen in Southeast Asia. Until now, it is in search of a format and a tradition. Its culture is in the making.
People have yet to learn to think about public affairs.
It is, therefore, relevant to investigate what people are being taught about these matters. To this purpose, this paper will offer excerpts of the Ministry of Education s guidelines and explanations for teachers and summarize the relevant contents of official and approved school texts currently in use. Apparently, the Ministry, as a public intellectual , still has to come to grips with the recent experience of living in a modern , urban-anonymous, businesslike and individualizing environment. As a result, it continues to preach ethics that no longer apply, and only makes a scant contribution to the development of a civil society. Public Debate in 19th Century Siam Suteera Nittayananta From July 1844 until October 1845, and again from March 1865 till February 1867, a group of American missionaries led by Dan Beach Bradley published a newspaper in the Thai language called Bangkok Recorder.