The Critiques of Capitalism in Thai Literature

Abstract

This research, The Critiques of Capitalism in Thai Literature, aims to scrutinize 30 Thai short stories and novels during 3 decades, from 1987 to 22^nd May 2014, to investigate thoughts embedded in the critiques of capitalism in Thai literature. The study shows that the representations of capitalism in 30 Thai literary works are critiques, not reflections. Thai literature presents that capitalism in Thailand are involved with the decline of Thai ways of life, the loss of humanity, the loss of natural source and environment, the corruption in bureaucracy, politics, and private sectors, and, finally, the economic crisis together with the return to countryside. These issues are differently emphasized in each decade, depending on the politic-economy and social situations. In addition, the thoughts of the critiques are based on 3 ideologies which are Humanism, Marxism, and Conservatism.