Thailand bans a textbook that addresses contemporary Thai politics and society, including chapters on the monarchy and the government’s use of lese-majeste laws. Multiple outlets report that the ban applies to the second edition of the “Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Thailand,” which is published in English.
The coverage notes that Thailand’s royal family is treated as highly revered, and that criticism can be constrained by strict defamation-related legal protections, which critics say are used to curb dissent. Several reports also specify that the book’s exiled editor, a Japan-based academic and critic of the monarchy, says the ban is linked to the book’s treatment of monarchy topics.
Outlets largely align on the same core details: the book’s identity, the stated national security rationale, and the focus on monarchy-related chapters. Differences appear mainly in added context and emphasis—some foreground the national security/legal framework, while others highlight the editor’s reaction and background, including the book’s publication timing and editorial role.
