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Paul Chambers (academic)

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Paul Chambers
Born
Paul Wesley Chambers

(1966-08-17) August 17, 1966 (age 58)
CitizenshipUnited States
Academic background
Education
ThesisFactions, Parties, Coalition Change, and Cabinet Durability in Thailand: 1979 to 2001 (2003)
Academic work
DisciplinePolitical scientist
Main interestsPolitics of Thailand

Paul Wesley Chambers (born August 17, 1966) is an American political scientist. He is known in academia for his research into the role of the Thai military in the politics of Thailand. He became known to a wider audience after being arrested and charged with lèse-majesté by Thai authorities in April 2025.

Early life and education

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Paul Wesley Chambers was born on August 17, 1966.[1] He grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, and graduated from Norman High School in 1984. He received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Letters and Spanish from the University of Oklahoma in 1987 and 1988, respectively, Master of Arts degrees in Political Science and International Affairs from Ohio University in 1992 and 1999, respectively, and a PhD degree in Political Science from Northern Illinois University in 2003. His PhD thesis is entitled Factions, Parties, Coalition Change, and Cabinet Durability in Thailand: 1979 to 2001.[2][3]

Academic career

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Chambers first went to Thailand with the U.S. Peace Corps in 1993, where he volunteered as an English teacher at Suwannaphum School in Roi Et. From 1995 until 1998, he worked as an English instructor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Ratjabhat Institute in Ubon Ratchathani, and Vientiane (Laos).

In 2003, Chambers became visiting assistant professor in Political Science at the University of Oklahoma until he became a lecturer in Political Science at Chiang Mai University in Thailand in 2005. From 2006 until 2008 he served as an academic coordninator and instructor at Payap University's Thai and Southeast Asian Studies Certificate Program.

He was a senior research fellow at Heidelberg University from 2008 until 2011 in a project related to civil–military relations in Asia.

He later became a lecturer in the Faculty of Social Sciences at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, Thailand,[4][5] and a visiting fellow at the Thailand Studies Programme of the Singapore-based ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute.[6]

Lèse-majesté charges and dismissal

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Chambers was served an arrest warrant by Thai police on April 4, 2025, and summoned to the local police station. The criminal complaint was reportedly filed by the Thai army.[7] After turning himself in, he was released on bail on April 9, 2025.[8] He was charged with lèse-majesté for allegedly writing a text on the website of the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.[5][9][8][10][excessive citations] Chambers denied having written the text, a webinar invitation posted in October 2024.[8][11][12] In the meantime, the text was removed from the institute's website.[13]

The case was dropped by prosecutors, but the police did not initially confirm the decision.[9][14][15] Despite the revocation of his work visa,[10][9] he was not allowed to leave the country.[9][11] After the court had returned his passport, it was seized by Thai immigration officials for a review of the visa revocation.[13]

Following the revocation of his permission to stay in Thailand, Naresuan University's Faculty of Social Sciences terminated his work contract effective from April 9, 2025.[4][9] Chambers appealed his dismissal for lack of due process.[5][13]

Chambers subsequently left Thailand on the advice of the U.S. embassy.[16]

The case sparked a debate about academic freedom, the treatment of foreign academics in Thailand, and the lèse-majesté laws of the country.[5][17][18]

Publications

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  • Chambers, Paul, ed. (2013). Knights of the Realm: Thailand's Military and Police, Then and Now. Bangkok: White Lotus Press. ISBN 978-974-4801-98-2.
  • Chambers, Paul; Waitoolkiat, Napisa, eds. (2017). Khaki Capital: The Political Economy of the Military in Southeast Asia. Copenhagen: NIAS Press. ISBN 978-87-7694-224-3.
  • Chambers, Paul (2024). Praetorian Kingdom: A History of Military Ascendancy in Thailand. Singapore: ISEAS Publishing. ISBN 978-981-5104-24-0.

References

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  1. ^ "Chambers, Paul, 1966–". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on June 16, 2025.
  2. ^ Young, Abby (April 4, 2025). "OU alum, Norman native Paul Chambers faces Thai arrest warrant for alleged royal insult". OU Daily. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  3. ^ "Thailand's 2024 Military and Police Reshuffles: What do They Mean?". www.iseas.edu.sg. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Naresuan University terminates Chambers after Article 112 case dropped". The Nation (Thailand). May 3, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d Puntid Tantivangphaisal (May 7, 2025). "Lèse majesté: US academic fights Thai university sacking". The Thaiger. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  6. ^ "Paul Wesley Chambers". www.iseas.edu.sg. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  7. ^ "Police summon US scholar in Thailand after army alleges he insulted the monarchy". AP News. April 4, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c Denwalt, Dale. "Oklahoma man charged with insulting Thailand's royal family". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e "US academic in limbo in Thailand over royal insult case, family says". Bangkok Post. Reuters. May 16, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Regan, Helen (April 8, 2025). "US 'alarmed' as American faces years in jail on charges of insulting Thai monarchy". CNN.
  11. ^ a b Janna Clark (May 15, 2025). "FOX23 Investigates: OU graduate arrested in Thailand not allowed to leave after charge was dropped". FOX23 News. Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  12. ^ Ratcliffe, Rebecca (April 8, 2025). "American academic held in Thailand charged with insulting monarchy". The Guardian. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  13. ^ a b c "Thailand-based US scholar contests 'illegal' dismissal". Bangkok Post. May 7, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  14. ^ "Prosecutors in Thailand drop royal defamation case against US scholar". CNN. Associated Press. May 2, 2025.
  15. ^ "Thai prosecutors drop case against US academic accused of insulting royalty". BBC News. May 2, 2025.
  16. ^ Faulder, Dominic (June 11, 2025). "Deported US academic Paul Chambers fears return to Thailand". Nikkei Asia. Archived from the original on June 11, 2025.
  17. ^ "On the Thai Authorities' Arrest of Paul Chambers". U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Thailand. April 9, 2025.
  18. ^ "Statement: Calling on Thailand to Guarantee Basic Rights in the Criminal Justice System in Section 112 Case Regarding the Arrest of Dr. Paul Chambers". Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. April 13, 2025. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
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