From Royalty to Citizenship: The Legacy of Monarchical Ideals in Contemporary Cambodian Public Life

This study is dedicated to examining the transformation of monarchical ideals and their enduring influence on contemporary Cambodian civic identity and institutional development. Employing a sociophilosophical framework, this research investigates how the symbolic architecture of royal authority, rooted in the sacred devarāja (god-king) tradition and later reframed through Buddhist dhammarāja (righteous king) ideals, continues to shape modern political perceptions, behaviors, and structures. Despite the formal adoption of democratic institutions after the 1993 UN-brokered elections, Cambodian political subjectivity remains anchored in hierarchical and symbolic forms of legitimacy. Public life, civic education, and state rituals remain permeated with sacred imagery and performative acts that reinforce reverence for authority, moral obedience, and national unity. This study integrates political philosophy, cultural anthropology, and historical analysis methodologies to trace the interplay between monarchical symbols and liberal-democratic citizenship concepts. A central focus is the ontological shift from 'subject' to 'citizen', a transition that extends beyond legal reforms to demand the reinterpretation of traditional values within a civic framework. Through analysis of rituals, language, educational texts, and media representations, the paper demonstrates how symbolic power perpetuates political culture, molds civic expectations, and limits participatory agency. This research offers two key contributions. First, it positions Cambodia as a paradigmatic posttraditional society, where modern governance coexists with sacred cultural foundations. Second, it underscores the resilience of symbolic monarchy in legitimizing political authority, advocating for civic education models that engage local values rather than impose external frameworks. By illuminating these dynamics, the study significantly advances broader debates in comparative political thought, postcolonial statecraft, and Southeast Asian governance, providing a nuanced perspective on hybrid political identity and legitimacy in transitional societies