Thailand. Political authority and provincial identity in Thailand: The making of Banharn-buri . By Yoshinori Nishizaki. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Southeast Asia Program Publications, 2011. Pp. 236. Maps, Plates, Notes, Bibliography, Index.

Political authority and provincial identity in Thailand: The making of Banharn-buri By YOSHINORI NISHIZAKI Ithaca, NY: Cornell Southeast Asia Program Publications, 2011. Pp. 236. Maps, Plates, Notes, Bibliography, Index. This book provides a meticulously detailed and insightful account of Banharn Silpa-archa (b. 1932), a former prime minister of Thailand and elected member of parliament (1976-2008) from Suphanburi province to the north of Bangkok. It unveils the roots of popular support for Banharn, who has come to epitomise corrupt provincial politicians who rise to power through vote-buying, electoral fraud and violence, in his case allegedly achieved through the manipulation of a vast network of vulnerable rural clients. Yoshinori Nishizaki's study offers an alternative interpretation of the behaviour and practices of rural populations in Thailand, generally portrayed in a negative light by previous studies as a pliant tool of local strongmen (often corrupt and violent), a group to be distinguished from their more modernised and politically progressive urban counterparts and an impediment to 'good governance' and democracy in Thailand. By contrast, Nishizaki's extensive fieldwork in Thailand (19992007), drawing on a wide variety of sources including hundreds of interviews, Thai-language materials, provincial newspapers and official documents, demonstrates that rural people are no less rational or autonomous than their urban counterparts and have their own legitimate reasons for supporting particular politicians. Nishizaki shows first that the role of vote-buying in Thai elections has been overemphasised by the academic and policy communities, since almost all candidates dispense money as a 'defensive' ritualistic act, and thus the practice has only limited utility in explaining why some candidates are elected over others. Banharn's rise to power is particularly intriguing, especially in light of the fact that only half of the provincial population in his electorate have benefited directly from his development projects and, conversely, that some of his beneficiaries do not support him as vote canvassers. Nishizaki then moves on to demonstrate the non-material, or social-psychological, dimension to Banharn's political authority--in essence, his ability to enhance the image and reputation of Suphanburians' provincial identity. Nishizaki argues that Banharn's generous donations, allocation of state funds, and disciplined leadership at the local level have revitalised the collective pride of Suphanburians, renewing a deeply cherished provincial identity closely associated with its glorious historical past--but one that has been marginalised throughout the period of the modem Thai state. Nishizaki does not deny the many negative attributes of Banharn cited by his critics and opponents (which include alleged corruption and policy blunders during his short-lived administration, held to have contributed to Thailand's economic crisis in 1997). While he acknowledges that very few of Banharn's supporters actually worship Banharn as a living god, Nishizaki notes that they were willing to condone misappropriation of public funds as long as Banharn prioritised the needs of their home areas and his behaviour did not undermine the collective interests of their community. Other supporters affirmed that Banharn had strong positive qualities that compensated for his corrupt practices, and that his actions fell within the bounds sanctioned by Thai custom. Some went further, arguing that Thai politics is so 'full of intrigue that ordinary citizens need a dirty politician to obtain what they want from the state' (p. 187). Nishizaki thus contends that it would be futile for political scientists to look for 'objective' criteria proving that Suphanburians have been 'fooled' by Banharn since the political narratives favoured by Suphanburians, albeit exaggerated and often spurious, reflect their deeply cherished beliefs and are impervious to scientific or logical refutation. …