Lost Palaces,Lost History: The Wang of Bangkok’s Rattanakosin

Siam’s practices of polygamy variously bemused and shocked European visitors to the kingdom in the nineteenth century; however, especially in the case of the early Chakri monarchy, there was always also a strong political rationale to such customs. Multiple liaisons would yield multiple sons who could subsequently serve as defenders of both realm and dynasty; later, as the nation evolved, they could form a pool of ministers and administrators. Multiple daughters, in turn, were always useful in shoring up support from a restive nobility. Sons in particular, however, presented a real estate challenge as they had to be housed in appropriate style and this called for a profusion of both small and large palaces, wang, throughout the old historic city of Rattanakosin. From the locations of wang and their degrees of splendour one might have been able to read the evolving politics and political economy of early Bangkok, also the always evolving role of the monarchy, except that most have been swept away for more mundane urban development. Yet enough evidence remains for the story still to be pieced together, thereby throwing some light on currently fraught debates over the political context and role of the monarchy.     

The Politics of Environmental Policy in the People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China (PRC) has made substantial progress in developing environmental legislation and a complementary regulatory structure. These gains are directly related to the economic reforms and opening to the outside world that began in the 1970s, which introduced a greater emphasis on efficiency and more awareness of the costs associated with pollution and environmental degradation. However, the economic growth and devolution of power unleashed by the reforms have also created new environmental stresses and to some extent reduced the regulatory capability of governmental authorities. As a result, some environmental stresses are increasing even as progress is made on other fronts. Political participation is restricted and environmental issues only occasionally acquire political salience. However, international pressure on the PRC to conform its conduct to international environmental norms is likely to increase, which is likely to affect domestic policymaking.     

Book reviews

THE SECOND WORLD WAR; Vol. 1: THE GATHERING STORM By Winston S. Churchill. (Cassell. pp. xv+640).

WORKSHOP OF SECURITY. By Paul Hasluck, 1948. (F. W. Cheshire, Melbourne and London. 121 pp.).

AUSTRALIA. Edited by C. Hartley Grattan. (University of California Press, 1947. 444 pages with index).

BURMESE ECONOMIC LIFE. By J. Russell Andrus. 1947 (Stanford University Press. $4.00).     

Report of council

The ancient medina of Fes has retained moving through the gates of the medina and suggests much of its traditional craft‐based industrial economy, relying on a flow of raw materials and goods carried within the old city by human and animal porterage. Vehicular traffic is unable to penetrate much of this area, necessitating considerable transhipment between different transport modes at the edge of the medina. This study examines the type of goods and transport that variations in these are related to the location of functional zones within the medina and to the condition of the urban fabric.