MFU Connexion, 8(1) || page 61 Chiang Rai as a Border Province under the Nation State’s Design of Border Space* Pollavat Prapattong1 Received Oct 11, 2018 Revised Dec 16, 2018 Accepted Dec 26, 2018 Abstract This article was motivated by the debate on whether the present-day “Chiang Rai” is the same “Chiang Rai” that has existed since its founding in 1262 C.E. This study was based on the hypothesis that Chiang Rai, officially called “Chiang Rai province,” at present becomes a border area because of the politically established border. This study adopted a historical approach, namely, a historically reconstructed landscape of Chiang Rai. It was found out that Chiang Rai was brought up from being the border area redesigning. The study was examined the development of the province’s basic historical structure in 4 stages as followed. Stage 1: Redesigning of Traditional State, Chiang Rai before the new Nation State taking place. Stage 2: Redesigning of Civilization, Chiang Rai under the new Nation State (the decade of 1880-1950). State 3: Redesigning of Modern Thai People, Chiang Rai and being modern Thai society redesigning (the decade of 1 School of Liberal Arts, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand, e-mail:
[email protected] * This article is summary of the research “Muang Chiang Rai under the Boundary Line Authority.” It was funded by The Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and Mae Fah Luang University. MFU Connexion, 8(1) || page 62 1950-1980) and state 4: Chiang Rai and its redesigning after the border opening (the decade of 1980-2000).