THAILAND

Thailand’s population of 63 million is relatively homogeneous

Before 1932, Thailand was an absolute monarchy

A violent collision between the military and pro-democracy demonstrators on the streets of Bangkok in 1992.

The 1997 Asian economic started in Thailand

Pressing problems include widening gaps between urban and rural conditions, and between rice and poor.

Early History

In the 13th century, several kingdoms emerged across the regions

The Tais were the principal ancestors not only of today’s Thais but also of the Lao peoples, the Shans

The Tias were wet-rice farmers clusters in maung-one or more villages under a chieftain

The Tais probably adopted Theravada Buddhism from Mon states

Angkor provided lessons in administering large, scattered populations and in a range of arts and technologies-their attacks in 14th-15th centuries.

13th century, the most celebrated early Tai states were the Kingdom of Sokhothai.

AYUDHYA, 1351-1767

In 1351, the establishment further south of the kingdom of Ayudhya-known as Siam, which survived until 1767.

It founded by U Thong

Thai-ness was also being constructed out of Mon, Khmer, Chinese and other peoples.

Ayudha became one of Southeast Asia’s great trading ports.

Male subject pay many months of service each year to the state.

Ayudha’s social structures proved remarkably strong and enduring.

They had defeated Angkor and wage war on other rivals, and claim an empire sometimes encompassing much of modern Laos, the Tai kingdom of Lan Na, and the states of Malay peninsula.

1568, the Burmese king Bayinnaung laid siege to Ayudha, haivng extended his military power over the north as fas as Laos.

Ayudha city fell in 1569 and was destroyed

Over the next decades, Narasuan managed to reconstitute the kingdom and clawed back much of Ayudha’s tributary empire. By 17th, Ayudha was again a major power.

Ayudha was a wealthy trade centre where Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, French, Malay and other Asian traders.

However, it had to challenge with Burma again in 1766 and one year later, the city fell into the hands of Burma.

The city was burned

The Rise of Bangkok Empire

Taksin declared himself king and founded a new capital at Thonburi in 1767.

In 1782, a tax revolt evolved into a coup and Tasik was deposed and executed, and then the coup leader offered Chaophraya Chakri, Rama I, the throne in 1782.

Because of his military skills and great administrative and intellectual abilities, Thai empire became larger than any Ayudha had controlled.

King Rama I built constructed his capital in Bangkok, founded in 1782.

Rama I gathered about him talented officials, jurists, scholars and artists.

Their achievements included the reconstruction and reform of the sangha hierarchy, production of new text of the Buddhist scriptures, the complete revision of the kingdom’s laws, and the translation of numerous works.

Bangkok and the West

In the 1830s and 1840, Bangkok saw Vietnam as their chief foreign threat rather than Western power.

In Bangkok, a group of royal and noble young men were studying the West keenly, led by Prince Mongkut.

When he as a monk, Mongkut spent his energies to reform Thai Buddhism, studying Western languages, Western science and mathematics.

Then he became king, Mongkut was in a position to re-orientate Bangkok positively towards the West

King Mongkut avoided other fundamental reformed. His son Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868-1910) came to replace him.

King Chulalongkorn abolished slavery, ended forced labors for the states, a major reform in the government, cabinet government, and provincial administration.

However, Western empires stripped the former Thai empire.

His death in 1910 laid the foundations of a modern military, improving communications, law reform, and Western-style education.

The Eclipse of the Monarchy, 1910-1932

The emergent of Thai nationalism was strengthened in the reign of King Rama VI, 1910-25.

It was his who introduced the trinity of “Nation, Religion and King”

King Prajadhipok (Rama VII, 1925-35) succeeded the throne and the national income slumped.

On 24 June 1932, plotters in the military and bureaucracy staged a bloodless coup, obliged king to surrender the monarchy’s absolute powers and accept constitutional status.

The Rise of Military Government, 1932-1948

The military was best-organized, most cohesive modern institution.

Phibun Songkhram and his supporters were attracted to other political models-fascist Italy, Germany, Japan.

Phibun changed his country’s name from Siam to Thailand in 1939.

Phibun sent forces in November 1940 to invade Laos and Cambodia.

Facing to an Allied victory, he quietly resigned the prime minister-ship.

Strongman Era, 1948-1973

Washington wanted strong, anti-Communist, Thailand joined in American-led strategies for containment of Asian communism.

In the 1950s, US aided Thailand with great social and economic development.

Phibun mounted another anti-Chinese campaign, and also attempted to impose cultural uniformity in Malay-Muslims of the far south.

In 1955, Phibun promised elections, and then his party was accused of massive fraud during 1957 election. Sarit stage a coup in September 1957, driving Phibun into exile.

King Bhumibol Adulydej (Rama IX, 1946-present) attended public ceremonies, toured the provinces and patronized development projects.

The public was shocked when Thanom proclaimed reversed direction in 1971, dissolving the parliament and banning political parties.

In October 1973, student protests against political depression.

The demonstrators were successful when the army withheld its support from Thanom, who fled into exile.

Between Autocracy and Democracy, 1973-1992

In 1976, the military resumed power and permitted to right-wing organization to torture and kill student radicals gathered at Thammasat University in Bangkok.

General Kriangsak Chomanand assued the prime ministers-ship in 1977, promising a new constitution and elections in 1979.

Prem Tinsulanonda 1979-1988

Chatichai Choonhavan 1988-1991

Geneal Sochinda Kraprayoon 1991-1992

Chuan Leekpai 1992-1995; 1997-2001

Thaksin Shinawatra 2001-2006

Thailand in Prospect

The military’s political influence remain strong

Corruption is a specter (ghost) which hang over both civilian and military politics.

The present King maintained broad national respect.

Thai society has remained stable when compared with neighboring countries.

Thailand achieved average growth rates of around 7 to 8 per cent; has played as a key regional financial centre; population 63 million in 2005.

Poverty became an issue at the forefront of national concern, traffic jams in Bangkok, money politics.

Rural infrastructure remains inadequate to attract much business and industrial away from the capital.

AIDS has become the country’s most pressing health issue; drug problem; the three Malay-Muslim dominated southern states.