Homosociality in modern Thai political culture

摘要

One of the most intriguing social spaces in Thai history is the court of the sixth Bangkok king, Vajiravudh (r. 1910-25), and the circle of young men he cultivated there. These men were deeply loyal to the king, and he to them. The relationships were emotional, affirming, intense, and physical; for many of the men, these close relationships of their youth lasted into adulthood and marriage, if they married, and many of them did. It is said, rather too coyly, that the sixth reign was controversial. The more forthright assessment both at the time and in the decades since is that it was a disaster.