Founder of 112WATCH releases his new book on IRs

This book— iR IS US: Global Politics Evolves Around  Us— did not arise out of thin air, but rather is the result of a crystallization of thoughts, profound life lessons, and extensive experiences encountered by the author—Pavin Chachavalpongpun— as an exiled scholar. The initial intention in compiling and presenting this work was to offer a fresh perspective on International Relations (IR), attempting to dismantle conventional thinking that often views global politics, foreign policy, or security issues as "distant" or merely matters concerning states, superpowers, and diplomats in air-conditioned rooms.

Conversely, the entire content of this book aims to open up space for the understanding that geopolitical phenomena, foreign policy, and security discourse interact, permeate, and directly impact the lives, experiences, and political consciousness of all citizens in an inseparable manner. Viewing international relations through such a critical lens will help dismantle the myth that ordinary citizens are merely political victims, demonstrating that we are all constantly involved in and driven by the complex dynamics of the world.

A crucial question that often arises is: why is it necessary for us to learn about and understand international relations? In today's globalized world, where borders are blurring, geopolitical conflicts or crises occurring on the other side of the globe are no longer distant issues. They inevitably have a ripple effect on everyone's daily lives, impacting inflation, energy prices, supply chain issues, shortages, and even freedom of movement and well-being. Understanding international relations is a vital tool that helps citizens read global power dynamics, avoid becoming victims of propaganda, nationalist rhetoric, or fear-mongering used by governments to legitimize human rights violations.

Contents:

1. Introduction: International Relations: The Myth of "Distant Matters"
Part 1: The Identity and Behavior of Thailand's Foreign Policy
2. The Roots of Bamboo Diplomacy: Interests and Values ​​in Thailand's Foreign Policy
3. Thailand's foreign policy on human rights and the crisis surrounding Article 112.

Part 2: New Dimensions of Security and Geophysical Conflicts
4. Thailand in the US-China competition.
5. Why War? Why do we wage war?
6. Map Traps and Geobody Madness: The Roots of the Thai-Cambodian Conflict
7. Peace Studies and Conflict Studies in Thailand: The State's Discourse on Security.
8. Building a Nation on the Cloud: Cyber ​​Sovereignty in Thailand
9. COVID-19 attacks the Thai state.

Part 3: Philosophical Dialogue and New Political Spaces
10. Perspectives from afar: The political awakening of the new generation of Thai expatriates.
11. Interview with Noam Chomsky: Authoritarianism, Liberalism, and the New Generation of Youth.
12 Under the Academic Shadow of Slavoj Žižek, Part 1: Liberation Through a New Global Perspective
13. Under the Academic Shadow of Slavoj Žižek, Part 2: Excessive Monarchism: A Political Pleasure in Thailand.

Published by Matichon Book. Out now!