King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a highly revered and unifying figure in Thailand, died Thursday in Bangkok. He was 88 and one of the longest-reigning monarchs in history.

University of Michigan experts can comment on his legacy and future of the country:

John Ciorciari, associate professor at the Ford School of Public Policy and co-director of the International Policy Center, is an expert on Southeast Asia. He examines foreign policy strategies, human rights and the reform of international economic institutions.

“For decades, the king has been the central pillar and linchpin of the Thai political system,” he said. “His successor will almost certainly not enjoy the same prestige or sway. Thailand is thus on the brink of tremendous political and social uncertainty. His passing may prompt further turmoil. At the same time, Thais may only be able to constitute a workable new order as they confront a new chapter without the revered monarch in place.”

Contact: 734-615-6947, johncior@umich.edu

Victor Lieberman is the Raoul Wallenberg Distinguished University Professor of History and professor of Asian and comparative history. His research focuses on Southeast Asia in a global context and the Burmese administrative context.

“The Chakri dynasty has reigned for over 230 years and is, or until recently has been, inseparable from Thai national identity,” he said. “I can’t imagine the army would do anything in the short term to erode the symbolic importance of the monarchy after the current king dies, but intra-royal family issues and social tensions in the country at large make the long-term future more murky.”

Contact: 734-763-4771, eurasia@umich.edu

Aimkamon Bunmee, lecturer in Asian languages and cultures, teaches Thai. Her research interests include phonetics and how how non-Thai people pronounce words in Thai and how they learn Thai as a second language.

“The King Bhumibol was the father of Thailand,” she said. “He was a legend, in large part, due to his development of a sustainable economy that benefited everyone in Thailand. He will live in our memory for the compassion and love he shared, and the honor our country received under his reign.”

Contact: 734-764-9105, aimkamon@umich.edu

Allen Hicken, the Ronald and Eileen Weiser Professor of Emerging Democracies and associate professor of political science, is currently in Thailand. His research areas include political parties and party systems in developing democracies and their role in policy making, particularly in Thailand, the Philippines and Cambodia.

Contact: ahicken@umich.edu

Kathleen Potempa, professor and former dean of the School of Nursing, has a long history of work in Thailand. She has a current NIH/Fogarty grant focused on building noncommunicable disease research and capacity in Thailand.

Contact: potempa@umich.edu