Reflections on the International Conference on Thai Studies

Abstract

Despite its robust survival as a well attended conference held every three years since 1981, the International Conference on Thai Studies (ICTS) has occasioned relatively little published introspection in the context of crises in the broader field of area studies. This article considers Thai Studies as a subset of area studies in this light, and it reviews the twelve conferences held prior to the July 2017 hosting of ICTS13 by Chiang Mai University. While the conference in particular, and Thai Studies in general, continue to attract interest, a number of key tensions are evident. These need to be addressed through robust debate, not least within the framework of the conference itself.