The designated heir, prince Vajiralongkorn, does not share the current king’s aura, far from it. The authority of the monarchy will not be easy to restore when the country is going through an institutional and ideological crisis. The (superficial) image of a Thailand which is consensual, hierarchical, organised around royalty, Buddhism and the nation, where all accept the place allotted to them, has cracked. The reality of social and political conflict appears in broad daylight – and not, moreover, for the first time.

– Extracted from Pierre Rousset (member of the executive committee of the Fourth International), “Thailand: Placing the crisis in perspective“, International Viewpoint, August 2010.