Shane Strate

I received my PhD in Southeast Asian history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2009. My geographic area of specialization is Thailand; thematic interests include imperialism, nationalism, and post-colonialism. Prior to arriving at Kent State University I taught at Wayne State College in Nebraska.

My book, The Lost Territories: Thailand's History of National Humiliation, examines two important and contrasting strands of Thai historiography: the well-known Royal-Nationalist history, which celebrates Thailand's long history of uninterrupted independence; and what I term, "National Humiliation discourse," its mirror image. Unlike triumphalist Royal-Nationalist narratives, National Humiliation history depicts Thailand as a victim of Western imperialist intervention. Although the state remains the hero in this narrative, it is a tragic heroism defined by suffering and foreign oppression.

As the resident Asianist here on the Kent campus, I teach courses on Modern India, Southeast Asia, Chinese Civilization, and Modern Japan. These are broad survey courses for students seeking an introduction to the countries and cultures of Asia.