Network Monarchy

Network Monarchy is an ideology that refers to the politics and ideals of deceased King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, the ninth monarch of  Thailand from  the Chakri dynasty as well as his successor,  Vajiralongkorn and supporters of the Chakri Dynasty within broader Thai politics.

History
Bhumibol Adulyadej or Rama IX was the 9th monarch of Thailand from the Chakri dynasty, reigning from 9 June 1946 until his death in 2016, having amassed a fortune of US$30 billion throughout his 70-year-long reign. Bhumibol was born in the US and was educated in Switzerland and ascended the throne following the death by gunshot of his brother, King Ananda Mahidol, whose death has been the cause of much speculation and conspiracy theories.

Cold War Era
In 1957, a military coup led by General Sarit Thanarat overthrew the government of dictator Plaek "Phibun" Phibunsongkhram who had ruled Thailand since 1932. This began a new and lasting relationship between the military and the monarchy with King Bhumibol Adulyadej coming to be seen as an almost God-like figure in Thai society.

After consolidating power following the 1957 coup against Phibun, General  Sarit Thanarat initiated a row of  paternalistic policies such as lower food and electricity prices, universal healthcare. However, due to corruption many of Sarit's welfare programs weren't properly implemented or did not last long. Sarit was also extremely conservative and ordered the arrest of so-called "hooligans" (anthaphan) and "troublemakers" such as those with long hair, flashy clothing, and tight pants. Opium and drug trade were also heavily suppressed.

Following the death of Sarit Thanarat, Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn became Prime Minister and the new military dictator of Thailand from 1963-1973. Thanom Kittikachorn's government got Thailand involved in the Vietnam War and Thailand during his tenure was the third-largest provider of ground forces to South Vietnam, following  the US and  South Korea. Thanom's government allowed the United States Air Force in Thailand to use its air and naval bases and at the height of the war, almost 50,000 American military personnel were stationed in Thailand.

Thanom's regime was known for massive corruption and faced multiple popular uprisings such as the communist insurgency by the Communist Party of Thailand (CPT) and 1970s peasant revolts in Thailand. Public discontent with Thanom's dictatorship reached its peak during the student-led 1973 Thai popular uprising that forced Thanom and his allies into exile in the US and  Singapore.

In October 1976, Thanom returned to Thailand in the robes of a novice monk. Even though he announced he had no desire to re-enter politics, his return triggered student protests, which eventually moved onto the campus of Thammasat University. As this happened only a year after South Vietnam and Laos had fallen to communism, right-wing Thai citizens mistakenly suspected the protesters wished the same fate for their own country. On 6 October 1976, right-wing militants, aided by government security forces, stormed the Thammasat campus, violently broke up the protests, and killed and injured many protesters in what came to be known as the 6 October 1976 massacre.

Modern Day
Prayut Chan-o-cha came to power in a 2014 coup (led by Prayut) which installed a military junta called the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) led by Prayut as the nation's new Prime minister. The new regime then declared martial law, suspending the constitution and imprisoning members of the former Thai cabinet, and initiating a crackdown on dissent against the new government. Prayut then created a list of twelve national core values which he had promoted in schools across the country. In 2019, along with his title as Prime Minister, Prayut also became the Minister of Defense, and was reelected in the first general election since the 2014 coup. 2019 was also the year the NCPO was officially dissolved, and a new cabinet was formed. The Thai constitutional court ruled that Prayut did not exceed the term limit of 8 years, which his term begins in 2017, the year when the 2017 Thai Constitution was enacted.

Lèse-majesté
Lèse-majesté which in French means "to do wrong to majesty", is a serious crime in Thailand crime according to Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code making it illegal to defame, insult, or threaten the monarch (king, queen, heir-apparent, heir-presumptive, or regent) of Thailand. Penalties for Lèse-majesté range from three to fifteen years imprisonment. Lèse-majesté has frequently been used throughout modern Thai history by coup makers to justify military coups against elected governments and prime ministers. Lèse-majesté was cited as one of the major reasons for the 2006 coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and that of 2014 against his sister  Yingluck Shinawatra, by the current Prime Minister  Prayuth Chan-o-Cha.

Sufficiency Economics
WIP

[[File:Anticommunism.png]] Anti-Communism
WIP

Friends

 * [[File:Natcon.png]] - Nationalism and conservatism, count me in.
 * [[File:Authoritarian Conservatism.png]] - We must protect our values and traditions by force.
 * [[File:Authcap.png]] - Based, but I dislike your neoliberal variants.
 * [[File:ThaiArmy.png]] - A strong military is needed to keep Thailand safe from foreign invaders.
 * [[File:Showa-kanmuri.png]] - Phibun was right allying with you during WWII and I admire your staunch anti-communism and opposition to European colonialism.
 * [[File:Dengf.png]] - Getting rid of Maoist nonsense was very based and now China is one of Thailand's most important trade partners.
 * [[File:Putin.png]] Putinism - Same as above.

Mixed

 * [[File:Necon.png]] - We were allies during the Cold War due to our shared opposition to the spread of communism but our relations have deteriorated significantly since Thaksin's premiership and I strongly suspect you're trying to topple me to turn Thailand into a vassal state against China.
 * [[File:Imp.png]] - I take grade pride in Thailand being the only nation in South East Asia that has never been colonized but collaboration with the Empire of Japan during WWII was necessary.
 * [[File:Hochi.png]] - I won't forgive you for supporting the Communist Insurgency in Thailand during the Cold War but you've gotten way better since you initiated the Doi Moi reforms during the 1990s.

Enemies

 * [[File:Soc.png]] - You must never take over Thailand.
 * [[File:Mao.png]] - You tried to take over Thailand during the Cold War and failed.
 * [[File:Thaksin.png]] Thaksinism - You're backed by the US and globalist elite with the purpose of selling out our natural resources, westernizing Thailand, and turning it into a republic. You deserved to be couped in 2006. Now stop using your sister and the Red Shirts to hold onto power.
 * [[File:Yingluck.png]] - Thaksin's sister and proxy. Prayuth was right to oust you from power in 2014.
 * [[File:Thar.png]] - Stupid Three-Finger Salute Mobs funded by NED and the Shinawatra family trying to topple me.
 * [[File:Republicanismpix.png]] - You'll never defeat me. Long live the Chakri Dynasty!
 * [[File:Hun Sen.png]] - You allowed Thaksin to use Cambodia as a base for the Red Shirts.

Further information
Network monarchy Bhumibol Adulyadej