2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
The Preah Vihear Conflict: Competing Concepts on Sovereign Territory between Siam and France
| Project/Area Number |
18K00993
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 03030:History of Asia and Africa-related
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Territorial conflicts / Spatial knowledge / Concept of sovereignty / Preah Vihear Temple / Colonial politics / Border dispute / Border demarcation / Siam-Cambodian relations |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
I investigated how the diplomatic negotiation in 1907, which gave birth to the Siamese-Franco Treaty in 1907, has over the years sparked border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah Vihear Temple. Despite initially accepting the French concept of bounded territory, Siam has continued to claim the ownership of the temple based on the traditional order of statecraft. The inconsistency of Thailand has driven its expansionist desire, backed up by the historical wounds caused by the supposed loss of territory to France, and eventually to Cambodia. History wounds have become embedded in today’s policy towards Cambodia. Whenever relationship between them becomes strained, the urge to claim back “lost territory” immediately rises to the surface. This pattern of conflict, originated in the history of boundary demarcation, is seen elsewhere in the region.
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| Free Research Field |
History
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
History plays an important part in defining the concept of sovereignty. Prior to to the arrival of modern concept of sovereignty, Siam relied on its own idea of Mandala to define boundary. This clashed with the Western concept, and thus prolonging the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.
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