Supachalasai Chyatat
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Theorising the Politics of Survivors: Memory, Trauma, and Subjectivity in International Politics Chyatat Supachalasai Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Ph.D. Department of International Politics Aberystwyth University June 2017 DECLARATION This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed……………………………………………. (candidate) Date……………………………………………13/7/2017 …. STATEMENT 1 This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed……………………………………………. (candidate) Date……………………………………………….13/7/2017 STATEMENT 2 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter- library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed……………………………………………. (candidate) Date……………………………………………….13/7/2017 i Summary This thesis aims to develop a theory of the politics of survivors based on the interrelated issues of memory, trauma, and subjectivity. It defines survivors as those who psychologically suffered from a traumatic event and whose mentalities continue to be affected by traumas. This thesis understands survivors as active participants in political resistance aimed at overthrowing current, authoritarian governments. In order to develop an appropriate theory of the politics of survivors, this thesis examines literature across the disciplines of social science. First, it adopts memory literature to argue that the political crises survivors have endured lead to the development of collective memory among survivors. Second, it incorporates literature of trauma to demonstrate that trauma cannot be conveyed in its entirety in testimony or language. Rather, testimony is used politically in the course of political resistance aimed at undermining the legitimacy of authoritarian governments. Third, the thesis relies on the insights of Slavoj Žižek, whose work highlights the nature of antagonism embedded in the ontology of ultrapolitics. The use of memory by survivors is consistent with Žižek’s thesis on the nature of political antagonism; the Real is something which transgresses the social fantasy. Fourth, a theory of the politics of survivors can only succeed if we take into account the formation of survivors’ subjectivities. Drawing on an insight of a psychoanalysis of Jacques Lacan, it shows the relationship between testimony and survivors’ social existence through the tension between the object petit a, the object of desire filled with the lack, and the Real. The theory also incorporates the notion of jouissance, which refers to ‘the surplus enjoyment’, ‘the not-all’, and ‘the enjoyment outside norm’, to argue that recalling a traumatic memory for political resistance reflects survivors’ enjoyment, and does not trigger a trauma as some have argued. The thesis tests the utility of this theory through examining the political histories of Southeast Asian countries, notably, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. ii Acknowledgements This thesis was completed in the Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University. I have recognised the reputation of the department since I was an undergraduate student in the Department of Government at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. It was beyond my undergraduate imagination, however, that I would be admitted to the cohort of PhD students of this prestigious academic institution and it is still hard to believe that my dream became a reality when my application and research proposal were accepted in 2012. I owe much to the Department of International Politics for giving me an opportunity to fully explore my ideas in a supportive, civilised environment. It is also the place where I have gained intellectual and life experience as an overseas student supported financially by The Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC) Thailand between 2013 and 2017. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisors, Professor Jenny Edkins and Dr Brieg Powel for their useful suggestions and close advice. Their suggestions have been indispensable as I have developed this thesis from its early stages to its completed form. Their patience, coupled with their insightful analysis, has taught me a lot about the process of doctoral research, critical thought, as well as stimulating in-depth thought about my research topic. Their suggestions have undoubtedly elevated this thesis and made conversation with other scholars possible. Without their fruitful advice, neither these conversations, nor completion of the PhD would have been possible. In addition to my supervisors, I wish to thank Professor Alistair Finlan who acted as a brilliant discussant during my presentation in the International Politics Research Seminar (IPRS). I also have to thank the members of my PhD committee members, Dr Inanna Hamati-Ataya, Dr Patrick Finney, and Dr Andreja Zevnik for their helpful comments and suggestions. In addition to the help I received in Aberystwyth, this thesis owes much to the academic staff of the Department of International Relations of Chulalongkorn University who have continually supported my intellectual development. Associate Professor Soravis Jayanama is the first person to whom I wish to express my gratitude. My time as one of his students opened to me the wonderful world of post-structuralism, post-colonialism, and the sophisticated thought of Slavoj Žižek, a Hegelian-Lacanian philosopher. The theoretical framework of this thesis would not have been possible without Soravis’s introduction to those ideas. In addition, I wish to express my gratitude to Associate Professor Dr. Chookiat Panaspornprasit, a former PhD student of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in the 1990s, for encouraging me to apply here. I acknowledge his support of me and my ideas, as well as his readiness to write a letter of recommendation for me. I have many wonderful memories of living in this small town on the west coast of Wales. I am thankful to have met great friends and people who helped me when I was having a hard time. First of all, I wish to thank Thanapat Bekanan for his strong friendship and his commitment to never abandon me when I felt lonely. Pavill Ruangvichatorn helped to withdraw me from my obsession with my research project and helped me to realise the joys of life outside my own universe. I would like to thank Saowapha Limwichitr for her patience in responding to my every question about scholarly procedure and e-mailing me the many documents I needed to fill-in. Wikanda Promkhuntong helped me to explore the town as well as enthusiastically discussing my project with me. I would also like to acknowledge the help of Tom Marshall, who agreed to look over the English used in this thesis and provided a professional proof-reading service. I am indebted to Raweewan and Matthew Phillips for providing me with food and drink while my legs were injured for two weeks. Jittipat iii Poonkham gave me the chance to participate in his many wonderful projects and our discussion about the lack of Thai International Relations Theory gave me some ideas while I was putting together the final draft of the thesis. I had many enlightening discussions with Prididom Pipatchukiat and Krishna Monthatip in Rosser Lounge and sometimes over the coffee table, which pushed my ideas in creative and innovative directions. Outside the town of Aberystwyth, I wish to thank Nathiya Ngarmkham for her warm welcome during my visit to the beautiful town of Canterbury and the county of Kent. I am grateful to Unchalee Rattana for her logistical role in supplying me with medicine from Thailand. Chanathip Klinkhlaijan and Piyasil Bulsathaporn provided me with the motivation for future projects and friendship while I took a break from the thesis. Professor Pisit Chawalahtawat sent me a warm letter sharing his academic experiences, a letter that continues to motivate my academic life. I am thankful to Professor Thanes Wongyannava for suggestions from afar and Pattarapol Intonhom for sharing exciting experiences outside of academia. Finally, I wish to express my gratitude to my family back in Thailand for their encouragement whenever I lacked confidence. The thesis is about survivors, memory, and trauma, but a person who forms the perfect memory and erases some of the painful and disturbing experiences of research is Tiewtiwa Tanalekhapat. She is a caring person and is always concerned for my situation rather than her own. As she helped me to survive my PhD education, I find no reason not to dedicate this thesis to her and to our future lives. Chyatat Supachalasai Aberystwyth June 2017 iv Table of Contents Summary ....................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... iii List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................................... vii List of Illustrations ...................................................................................................................... viii Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Statement of Research