Edoardo SIANI

Sono un antropologo e studio il rapporto tra buddhismo e potere in Thailandia.

La mia attività di ricerca si concentra su pratiche diffuse e al contempo situate ai margini della religione istituzionale, come la divinazione e la medianità, nonché sull'intreccio tra le cosmologie theravada, la regalità e i movimenti di protesta. Ho inoltre indagato il ruolo della morale buddhista in ambiti solo in apparenza secolari, come la negoziazione di identità di genere e sessualità non normative o il consumo di cibi crudi nelle zone rurali. Attualmente lavoro sul rapporto tra genere e potere, che affronto attraverso le figure dei fantasmi femminili.

Nella mia monografia, Political Divinations (University of Hawaiʻi Press, 2026), analizzo le dimensioni politiche della divinazione nella Thailandia urbana. In dialogo con la letteratura sulla teologia politica della sovranità, propongo di interpretare la divinazione nel Sud-est asiatico theravada come una tecnologia rituale del potere sovrano, in grado tanto di legittimare le rivendicazioni di autorità quanto di fornire gli strumenti per contestarle. Il volume è apparso dapprima in lingua thai con il titolo โหราประชาธิปไตย (Horaprachathipatai), pubblicato da Matichon Book nella traduzione di Preedee Hongsaton e con la revisione editoriale di Wirawan Naruepiti. Si è affermato tra i bestseller di saggistica alla Fiera nazionale del libro di Thailandia del 2026.

Alla base del mio lavoro c'è una ricerca sul campo condotta regolarmente in Thailandia e in lingua thai. La scelta di un approccio etnografico di lungo periodo nasce dal decennio in cui ho vissuto nel Paese prima di intraprendere la formazione accademica in antropologia.

Ho conseguito il dottorato in Antropologia e Sociologia presso la SOAS University of London. Durante gli studi dottorali ho insegnato presso la Facoltà di Sociologia e Antropologia della Thammasat University di Bangkok e successivamente ho svolto attività di ricerca post-dottorale presso il Center for Southeast Asian Studies della Kyoto University. Oltre al mio incarico a Ca' Foscari, sono Research Associate presso il SOAS Centre of South East Asian Studies e Book Review Editor della rivista South East Asia Research. Le mie ricerche sono state finanziate dalla SOAS, dalla University of Cambridge (Evans Fund), dall'École française d'Extrême-Orient, dall'Institute of Thai Studies della Chulalongkorn University e dalla Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Commento l'attualità politica, religiosa e sociale thailandese per media in lingua thai e per testate internazionali come la BBC e Reuters, e ho firmato articoli di opinione per il New York Times.

CURRENT POSITION

2020 – present: Assistant Professor (Ricercatore Rdt.B). Ca' Foscari University of Venice

(Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale alle funzioni di professore universitario di Seconda Fascia nel Settore Concorsuale 10/N3, conseguita in data 20/11/2023)

PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS

2020 – 2021: Affiliated Assistant Professor. Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies

2020 – 2020: Program-specific Assistant Professor. Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies

2018 – 2020: Program-specific Researcher. Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies

2018 – 2019: Research Associate. School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

2018 – 2019: Research Consultant. School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

2015 – 2016: Teaching Assistant in Social Anthropology. School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

2014 – 2015: Adjunct Lecturer in Social Anthropology. Thammasat University, Bangkok

EDUCATION

2018: Ph.D. Anthropology and Sociology. School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

2013: M.A. Social Anthropology. School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

2011: B.A. (Honours) Humanities with Creative Writing. The Open University, United Kingdom

GRANTS AND AWARDS

2019 – 2020: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science: Kakenhi Grant for Early-Career Scientist

2019 – 2020: Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies: Center for Southeast Asian Studies Research Grant

2018: Kyoto University: Grant for a Multidisciplinary Platform Meeting

2018: Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies: Center for Southeast Asian Studies Research Grant

2017: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London: Conference Funding

2016: École Française d’Extrême-Orient, Paris: EFEO Field Scholarship

2016: Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok: ENITS Scholarship

2015: Department of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge: Evans Fund Grant (small)

2015: The Wenner-Gren Foundation, USA: Wenner-Gren Conference Grant (collectively)

2014: Department of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge: Evans Fund Grant (small)

2014: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London: Award for Fieldwork

2014: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London: Centre of South East Asian Studies Award

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

Invited PhD talks

2025: "Divination and Politics in Thailand: Against a Weberian Framework". Thammasat University, Bangkok

2021: “Divination in Thailand: Reflections on Ethnographic Fieldwork”. SOAS, University of London

2020: “South East Asia Lecture Series: Divination and Politics in Thailand”. Tsinghua University, Beijing

Invited talks

2026. "Lecture Bar: True Buddhism or Real Buddhism." Matichon Book, Bangkok. September 4. (Thai language)

2026. "The Role of Divination in Thai Politics and History." Chulalongkorn University, Faculty of Economics, Bangkok. August 25. (Thai language)

2022. “The Art of Resistance: Magic and Aesthetics in the Thai Youth Uprising”. Chulalongkorn University, Faculty of Political Science, Bangkok. August, 10. (Thai language)
 
2022. “‘Superstitious’ phenomena and Thai society”, Political Science Student Union, Chulalongkorn University. March, 19. (Thai language)
 
2021. “Becoming a Diviner”. King Mongkut University of Technology, Bangkok. September, 16.
 
2021. “Anthropology: Ghosts, Religion and Belief”. Free Anthropology (Manusyawithaya Plod Aek). June 12. (Thai language)

2019: “Popular Kingmakers: Diviners in Contemporary Buddhist Thailand”. Doshisha University, Kyoto

2019: “Thai Astrology and Politics” (Thai language). Srinakarin Virot University, Bangkok

2019: “Buddhist Cosmology and Power in Today’s Thailand”. Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania

2018: “Divination in Thailand”. Doshisha University, Kyoto

2018: “Buddhist Cosmology and Politics in Thailand”. Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania

2017: “Cultural Intimacy: A Discussion”. Thammasat University, Bangkok

2017: “Divination and Political Marketing in Thailand” (Thai language). Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok

Campus talks

2021: “DSAAM Research Day: Divination and Politics in Thailand”. Ca' Foscari University of Venice

2020: “CSEAS Colloquium, Purifying Violence: Buddhist Kingship in Thailand’s New Reign”. Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies

2018: “Death of an Immortal King: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of an Event”. Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies

2018: “Current Political Developments in Thailand: A Roundtable”. Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies

2016: “Living Across Religious and Gender Multiplicity in Thailand/Theorizing the Bangkok Night”. School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

Conference panels convened

2019: “Religion and the State”. SEASIA Conference 2019. National Chengchi University, Taipei

2015: “In God We Trust: The Adventures of Economy and Religion in the Contemporary World”. Panel convened at IUAES Inter-Congress 2015 Conference. Thammasat University, Bangkok

Conference papers

2025: "Performing Dissent: Polysemic Symbols and Audience in the Thai 2020-21 Protests." Workshop: Positioning Southeast Asia in Global Social Movement Studies. Humboldt Universität zu Berlin

2025: "Changing Times: Prophecy and New Political Imaginings in Thailand." ITASEAS Conference 2025. University of Turin

2019: “Divination and Kingship in Buddhist Thailand”. SEASIA Conference 2019. National Chengchi University, Taipei

2019: “Entering the Field: Killing and Consuming Food in Thailand’s Northeast”. EuroSEAS Conference 2019. Humboldt Universität zu Berlin

2019: “Death of an Immortal King: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Events”, with Matthew Phillips. EuroSEAS Conference 2019. Humboldt Universität zu Berlin

2019: “Otherness, Divinity and Violence: A Thai Buddhist Perspective on an Intimate Relationship”. ICAS 2019 Conference. IIAS, Leiden

2017: “Problematic Categories for the Study of Changing Forms of Religiosity in Contemporary Thai Buddhism”. International Conference of Thai Studies. University of Chiang Mai, Thailand

2017: “The Soteriology of Jazz: Embodying the Theos of Developmental Kingship Following the Death of King Bhumibol”. ARI Workshop on Political Theologies and Development in Asia. National University of Singapore

2016: “Belief, Practice and Wellbeing Roundtable”. Medical, Social and Anthropological Aspects of Cholangiocarcinoma Conference. School of Oriental and African Studies (U. of London), Imperial College London, NUS, Khon Kaen University (Thailand)

2016: “Telling Thailand’s Fortune: Buddhist Cosmology, Politics and Economy in Contemporary Bangkok”. ENITS Presentations. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok

2015: “Unpossessed Spirit Mediums: The Politics of Spirit Possession in Contemporary Bangkok”. Spirited Dharma International Workshop. School of Oriental and African Studies, London

2015: “Diviners and the Sublimation of Class and Religion in Contemporary Thailand”. IUAES Inter-Congress 2015 Conference. Thammasat University, Bangkok

Discussant

2024. "Concluding Remarks". Buddhist Foodways: Vegetarianism, Ritual Economies and Gastropolitics. Ca' Foscari University of Venice. November, 28-29.

2023. "Mapping the City of the Gods: Bangkok, Ethnicity, and the Galactic Polity (Yin-Cheng Distinguished Lecture Series)". Oxford University. December, 4.

2020: “Reporting from the Frontline: Possibilities and Limits of Southeast Asia Media Responses to Covid-19”. Conference at Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies

2019: “Fake News Legislations in Southeast Asia and the Impact on Freedom of Expression”. Seminar by James Gomez at Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies

2019: “Power and Amnesty in Southeast Asia”. Seminar at Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies

2019: “The Cultural Contexts of Cholangiocarcinoma in Thailand”. SOAS workshop in Bangkok, Thailand

2018: “The Visit of King Chulalongkorn to Europe in 1897 and the Reflection of Business Development in Thailand: The Cases of Siam Commercial Bank and Siam Cement Company”. Seminar by Prof. Phorphant Ouyyanon at Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University

2017: “Attending to a Neglected Disease: Probing the Prevalence of Bile Duct Cancer in North East Thailand Across Disciplines”. International Conference of Thai Studies. University of Chiang Mai, Thailand

Book talks

2026. "“Insight Talk ทำนาย ทายรัฐ.” Thammasat University, Faculty of Political Science, Bangkok. May 23. (Thai language)

2026: โหราประชาธิปไตย (Political Divinations). SEA Junction, Bangkok.

2026: โหราประชาธิปไตย (Political Divinations). Thailand National Book Fair, Bangkok.

2020: Political Theologies and Development in Asia: Transcendence, Sacrifice and Aspiration. Zoom session, organized by National University of Singapore

2018: Diaspora: Exit, Exile, Exodus of Southeast Asia. Chiang Mai: MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum

SERVICE TO PROFESSION

Committe member: CinemARTa (University of Venice)

Manuscript reviewer: HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory

Manuscript reviewer: Visual Anthropology

Manuscript reviewer: L'uomo

Manuscript reviewer: Modern Asian Studies

Manuscript reviewer: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Studies

Manuscript reviewer: Manusya: Journal of Humanities

Manuscript reviewer: Routledge

Manuscript reviewer: Journal of the American Academy of Religion

Manuscript reviewer: SOJOURN, Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia

Manuscript reviewer: Southeast Asian Studies

Manuscript reviewer: South East Asia Research

Manuscript reviewer: Journal of Southeast Asian Studies

Manuscript reviewer: ARI Working Paper Series

Manuscript reviewer: International Journal of Buddhist Thought & Culture

Manuscript reviewer: Palgrave Macmillian

SELECTED MEDIA

Authored articles

2020. “The Sovereigns of Thailand and the Skies”. The New York Times, Opinion.
 
2019. “How Thailand’s Generals Rule by Numbers and the Stars”. The New York Times, Opinion.
 
2014. “Thailandia, occupy Bangkok anti-governo: ‘Via gli Shinawatra e lotta a corruzione’”. Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italian language.
 
2013. “Thailandia, Premier Shinawatra scioglie Parlamento: elezioni già a febbraio”. Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italian language.
 
2011. “Thailandia, il turismo sessuale è anche al femminile”. Sky TG24, Italian language.

Interviews: Video

Matichon TV, 3 May 2026. "อ่านการเมืองไทยผ่านดวง".

Matichon TV, 4 Apr 2026. "X-Ock Talk". 

Matichon Weekly, 9 Aug 2023. "มูเตลู-ไสยศาสตร์ เครื่องมือของกลุ่มผู้มีอำนาจ ยันราษฎร".

Vice News, February 10, 2021. “Inside Thailand’s symbols of resistance”.
 
BBC World, October 24, 2020. Live interview on Thailand’s student protests.
 
BBC, October 27, 2016. Live interview from Bangkok for the passing Thailand’s King Bhumibol.
 
Interviews: Articles
 
The 101 World, June 2, 2022. “Thong anajak thi khap khluean duay satha muea ‘ai khay’ khue nata khong khwam wang [Tourism and worship when Ai Khay becomes the new face of hope]”, Thai language.
 
Libération, February 22, 2022. “Pour le loto thaïlandais, des chiffres qui font date”,French language.
 
Ca’ Foscari News, November 18, 2021. “Religioni del Sud-est asiatico: in aula con i monaci buddhisti thai”.
 
Ca’ Foscari News, July 27, 2021. “Il Sud-Est Asiatico delle nuove generazioni, tra ‘pop culture’ e proteste”.
 
OGzero—orizzonti geopolitici. January 23, 2021. “’Abbiamo bisogno di cambiamento’. Chiavi thai per una rivoluzione culturale nel regno del Siam”, Italian langauge.
 
LEFT, January 8, 2021 “Il paese dei golpi in cerca di pace”, Italian language.
 
Coconuts, December 8, 2020. “Comrades! ‘Restart Thailand’ warms up socialist rhetoric to maybe demand a republic”.
 
Ca’ Foscari News, December 3, 2020. “Perché i giovani thailandesi protestano contro esercito e monarchia?”
 
Thai Enquirer, December 7, 2020. “Another world is possible, and it isn’t communism”.
 
Thai Enquirer, December 3, 2020. “Covering the 2020 Thai protests: The ethics of photojournalism”.
 
Ca’ Foscari News, December 2, 2020. “Perché i giovani tailandesi protestano contro esercito e monarchia?”, Italian language.
 
Global Project, November 21, 2020. “Le proteste tailandesi tra modello internazionale alla Hong Kong e specificità nazionali”, Italian language.
 
The 101 World, January 10, 2020. “Edoardo Siani: Prachathipatai thai nai saita horasat [Edoardo Siani: Thai democracy through the lens of divination]”, Thai language.
 
Agence France-Presse (AFP), May 5, 2019. “Hugs and Instagram selfies: Thai King’s coronation gives glimpses of royal relations”. Also on The Straits Times, The Nation.
 
Reuters, May 1, 2019. “In Thailand, a white elephant fit for a king”. Also on CNBC.
 
France 24, April 30, 2019. “Making of a monarch: King’s image peppers Thailand ahead of coronation”. Also on Khmer Times.
 
Reuters, April 22, 2019. “From king’s coronation to commoners, astrology in Thailand is everywhere”. Also on South China Morning Post.
 
Il Foglio, March 26, 2019. “La Thailandia al voto sembra l’Italia”, Italian language.
 
The Japan Times, February 14, 2019. “In times of chaos, Thai politicians turn to clairvoyants”. Also on The Straits Times, Bangkok Post and Jakarta Times.
 
NIKKEI Asian Review, November 28, 2018. “Astrologer foresees bright future for Thai prime minister”.  
 
Il Manifesto, July 11, 2018. “Un Buddha di stato per 13 cinghiali”, Italian language.
 
South China Morning Post, July 6, 2018. “Will Thai junta use cave rescue of soccer team to save itself?”.
 
Il Foglio, July 9, 2018. “La trama perfetta”, Italian language.
 
Los Angeles Times, July 1, 2018. “Water pumps, drills and Buddhist prayers power desperate search for boys trapped in Thailand cave”.                                                                    
 
The Washington Post, June 27, 2018. “Spirit of mythical princess looms over Thai cave crisis”. Also on Los Angeles Times and AP, Associated Press.
 
The New York Times, June 24, 2018. “Boys freed from Thai cave enter monkhood to honor fallen rescuer”.
 
AP, Associated Press, June 20, 2018. “Under pouring rain, Thai cave search a muddy slog”. Also on Daily Mail.
 
Interviews: Radio
 
Radio Radicale, August 26, 2020. “Asiatica”, Italian language.
 
Radio Radicale, May 8, 2019. “Intervista a Edoardo Siani sul nuovo re Maha Vajiralongkorn, ufficialmente incoronato come Rama X”, Italian language.
 
RSI, Radiotelevisione Svizzera Italiana, March 25, 2019. “Quale futuro per la Thailandia?” Italian language.
 
Radio Radicale, February 15, 2019. “Intervista a Edoardo Siani sulla situazione politica in Thailandia in vista delle elezioni del 24 marzo 2019”, Italian language.
 
Radio Radicale, August 10, 2018. “Intervista a Edordo Siani sulla narrazione, tra mito e politica, scelta dal governo thailandese per raccontare l’operazione di salvataggio delle grotte di Tham Luang”, Italian language.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2002 – 2018: Language education and localization services. Bangkok, Thailand

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Italian: Native

English: Advanced

Thai: Advanced

French: Intermediate

Chinese: Basic