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Waiting for a righteous ruler: The Karen royal imaginary in Thailand and Burma.
- Source :
-
Journal of Southeast Asian Studies . Jun2012, Vol. 43 Issue 2, p340-363. 24p. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Karen believe they are like orphans without a king and leader; royalty often appear in their myths, legends and prophecies. Buddhist Karen await the next Buddha, Ariya Metteya — preceded by a righteous Karen leader — who shall cleanse the world. This paper explores the Karen imaginary and notions of royalty as preconditions for a new era governed by Buddhist ethics that will bring peace and prosperity. This imaginary combines religion and politics in a millenarian model of the world as seen from the margins of traditional kingdoms and modern nation-states — what James Scott has termed ‘non-state spaces’. The Karen oscillate between defensive and offensive strategies, as shown in several examples. Is this imaginary a premodern phenomenon typical of marginalised minorities or perhaps also part of a modern, global imaginary of a better future? The concept of morally enchanted leadership is discussed in relation to states, nations and globalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00224634
- Volume :
- 43
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Southeast Asian Studies
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 74468568
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022463412000094