Siam Mismapped

The territorial dispute over the Temple of Preah Vihear on the Thai–Cambodian border reveals how a single map, known as the Annex 1 map, has become a powerful 'living thing' with a 'soul,' shaping emotional attachments and conflicts. This study demonstrates that the map’s symbolic significance—rooted in Jean Baudrillard’s concepts of simulacrum and hyperreality—has transformed it into an object of deep cultural and national importance. Unlike traditional cartographic tools, this map has transcended its physical form to influence perceptions of territory and identity, leading to real-world conflicts when its boundaries are questioned. The research highlights the historical process by which such maps attain hyperreal status, blurring distinctions between representation and reality.

Lee, S. K. (2014). Siam Mismapped. South East Asia Research, 22(1), 39–55. https://doi.org/10.5367/sear.2014.0196