Southeast Asian Studies Podcast - Champassak Royalty and Sovereignty

In this episode of Southeast Asian Studies, Ian Baird discusses his new book, Champassak Royalty and Sovereignty: Within and Between Nation-States and Mainland Southeast Asia (University of Wisconsin Press, 2025). This monograph explores the enduring legacy of the House of Champassak, a royal lineage from southern Laos that has navigated centuries of political upheaval, from Thai vassalage and French colonialism to Lao independence and communist rule. Despite losing formal power, the House of Champassak has maintained a unique form of sovereignty and cultural influence, challenging conventional notions of monarchy and nationhood in Southeast Asia.

This episode was produced by NYSEAN partner, the New Books Network.