Or Will the Nation Change?: Challenges to the Concept of “Nationhood” in Thai Educational Areas
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Abstract
In 2020, high school student political activism sparked doubts about the patriotism of the activists, particularly from political opponents. This article explores the concept of nationhood among students. Three main issues are addressed: 1) the concept of nationhood based on social science knowledge; 2) national dynamics and ideology in social studies textbooks in Thailand; and 3) the definition of nationhood among students after the 2020 movement. The results show that advances in communication technology helped students, recognized as digital natives, challenge the national ideology instilled through the education system, which prioritized nation, religion, and monarchy. For students, nationalism does not critically focus on the institutions lauded in the education system but pertains primarily to people or citizens. Moreover, the process of collectively imagining nationhood has moved from the offline space of textbooks to the online space a significant space for learning, expressing, and exchanging their ideology.
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