Cambodia and Thailand’s Cultural Rivalry Has Serious Implications

via the Diplomat, 12 May 2023: The cultural similarities between Thailand and Cambodia have historically caused conflict between the two nations which has recently been reinforced by a nationalist sentiment related to the ownership of their respective cultural heritages, e.g. Preah Vihear.

Among the countries of Southeast Asia, few share more in common culturally than Thailand and Cambodia. In addition to being neighbors, both countries are predominantly Theravada Buddhist, with 93 percent of Thai people and 95 percent of Cambodians professing this faith. The two countries also share similar cultural activities, such as kickboxing and Apsara dancing, even though these often go by different names (in Cambodia, kickboxing is known as Kun Khmer, while Thais refer to it as Muay Thai). Both countries also share the national mantra of “nation-religion-king,” as well as similar social norms, culinary traditions, and socio-ethnic features. Their languages are also written in scripts that share the same origin. Nevertheless, these similarities have historically been a cause more of conflict than of cooperation between the two countries.

Source: Cambodia and Thailand’s Cultural Rivalry Has Serious Implications – The Diplomat