Political events that led to the creation of modern day Thailand, from pre-colonial times to the 2010s. For our Southeast Asian Politics class (comparative politics).

1. THAILAND
PRESENTED BY
THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF
UP DILIMAN POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS

2. I.Introduction to Thailand (a brief background)
II.Government and politics
III.Early History
IV.The Chakri Dynasty
V.Democratic Transition
VI.Thailand Today
FLOW OF PRESENTATION

3. INTRODUCTION

4. 198,270 square miles, the third
largest nation in Southeast Asia
Tropical climate with long hours
of sunshine and high humidity
(three main seasons: hot, rainy,
and dry/cool)
Rich diversity of wildlife
Famous for its gemstones, teak
industry rice, and rubber
GEOGRAPHY

6. Strong agricultural base
Human Development Index rate is 73
Human Poverty Index Rate is 28 (the population below the
poverty line is only 10%)
Low unemployment rate (about 1.5%)
Increase in exports and decrease in imports were major
factors in GDP growth
ECONOMY

7. The people belonging to the Thai ethnic group (the Khon
Thai) constitute about 80% of the population of Thailand
Thais are concentrated in central Thailand, along with Thai-
Lao, northern Thai, and southern Thai people
Other groups present in Thailand are the Chinese (15%), the
Malays, Burmese, Indians, hill tribes, and refugees from
Indochinese countries
About 68% live in rural areas, and the rest is found in cities
90% of the population is Buddhist
Others: Muslim, Hindu, Christian
PEOPLE AND POPULATION

8. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

9. A constitutional monarchy with a democratically elected
bicameral legislature and parliamentary style of
government
Three branches: executive, legislative, judiciary
A Prime Minister serves as head of the parliamentary
government
A hereditary Thai king functions as head of state
GOVERNMENT

10. Red represents unity
of the nation and
blood of life
White represents
religion and purity
of Buddhism
Blue represents the
king
THE FLAG

11. EARLY HISTORY

12. The Tais were the principal ancestors of the Thais; the Lao
peoples; the Shans of Burma; the Black, Red, and White Tais
of Laos and northern Vietnam; and the Lü of Yunnan, China
7th century – Tai migration spread southwards beginning in
western China
13th century – The muang (a village/s of Tais lead by a
chieftain) transformed into kingdoms
The kingdom of Sukhothai, the most celebrated of early Tai
states, is regarded as the birthplace of the Thai nation
THE TAIS

13. Established in 1351 and was founded by U Thong
Located 70 km above the Chaophraya river from the sea,
enabling it to become Southeast Asia’s great trading ports
Commanded the Chaophraya plain, providing rice for a
growing population and for export
System of sakdina, a social structure which directed the place
and duties of subjects in a rigidly hierarchical society
The 1766 Burmese siege destroyed the city in April 1767,
bringing an end to over 4 centuries of domination
THE KINGDOM OF AYUDHYA

14. Taksin, a military leader, declared himself king and founded a
new capital at Thonburi
In 1782, Taksin was deposed and executed, and the throne
was offered to Chaophraya Chakri which marks the beginning
of the dynasty of Thai monarchs
AFTER THE FALL OF AYUDHYA

15. CHAKRI DYNASTY

16. Constructed Bangkok as the new capital
Renovated old institutions, particularly of the period of
Ayudhya
Some achievements:
RAMA I (CHAOPHRAYA)
Reconstruction and reform of the sangha hierarchy
Production of a new, definitive text of Buddhist scriptures
Complete revision of the kingdom's laws
Translation of numerous literary and historical works

17. Bangkok remained traditional until Mongkut reoriented it
positively towards the West
Signed the Bowring Treaty with Britain
Also signed similar treaties with other Western powers
RAMA IV (MONGKUT)

18. Initiated the modernization of the kingdom
RAMA V (CHULALONGKORN)
Abolition of slavery
Replacement of forced labor for the state (corvée) with capitation tax
Government reform
Modern military
Communications
Western education
Western empires stripped the former Thai empire
Abandoned claims to Cambodia (during Mongkut)
Transferred sovereignty over areas which would constitute modern
Laos
Let go of control in 4 northern Malay states

19. DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION

20. 1932 coup d'état concluded the period of absolute monarchy
in Thailand
The coup leaders (“promoters”), composed of both civilians and
military men, were the younger generation of Western-oriented
political elites who saw absolute monarchy as ineffective
Their goal was to introduce a parliamentary democracy in the
country, so they set up a National Assembly of appointed and elected
members
1933 elections
The first parliamentary elections in Thailand’s history
Competition between Pridi and Phibun
THE FALL OF THE ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
The military dominated Thai government for 60 years

21. Phibun adopted some features of dictatorship during his
leadership
THE "STRONG MAN" ERA
Arrested opponents
Promoted himself as Thailand’s great leader
Targeted the Chinese in Thailand
Set in heavy state involvement in the economy
In 1957, Sarit Thanarat stepped into leadership and
declared martial law
Argued for a return to Thai traditions of social order
Accelerated economic development and social
modernization

22. In 1963, power was transferred to Generals Thanom
Kittikachorn (PM) and Praphas Charusathian (DPM)
THE "STRONG MAN" ERA
GNP growth increased to over 8% per year
Military became larger than ever
Economic development, wider education, and better
communications increased the numbers of the politically
aware
In October 1973, the “Students’ Revolution” precipitated
the downfall of the Thanom-Praphas regime and the era of
the “strong man”

23. The Thais were politicaly divided into three:
BETWEEN AUTOCRACY AND DEMOCRACY
Those who wanted to retain the autocratic discipline of the “strongman”
years
Those who saw the development of democracy as desirable, even
inevitable
Key military figures who proposed a “managed democracy”
1977
General Kriangsak Chomanand
became PM, promied a new
consitution and elections in 1979
1979
General Prem Tinsulanonda was
appointed PM
1988
Chatichai Choonhavan was elected
as PM
1991
Chatichai was overthrown by a coup
Anand Panyarachun was established as interim PM
1992
Elections resulted in a narrow
majority for anti=military parties; a
coalition government headed by
Chuan Leekpai was formed
2001
Thaksin Shinawatra came to power

24. A former policeman who became a telecommunications
billionaire
Described by Time of London as the “most successful and the
most divisive prime minister in Thai history”
The leader of the Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thai) Party
A populist leader who promised to bring prosperity to all Thais
by using the same skills that made him a rich man
In 2006, Thaksin was ousted by a coup d'état (*PAD-People's
Alliance for Democracy)
Accused of corruption, abuse of power, and undermining the
monarchy
THAKSIN SHINAWATRA

25. THAILAND TODAY

26. 2007 2008 2010 2011
New
constitution
PPP wins in
elections
Sundaravej
becomes PM
PPP leaders
were barred
from politics for
5 years
Vejjajiva becomes
PM
Thaksin
supporters protest
against the
current
government
Pro-Thaksin
Pheu Thai party
wins in elections
Yingluck
Shinawatra
becomes PM
2014 2016 2017 2019
New constitution gave military
continuing influence over the
country
King Bhumibol Adulyadej dies
Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn is
proclaimed king
Government
sets general
election date for
March 24
New
constitution that
paves the way
for a return to
democracy
PM Shinawatra
and several
ministers were
driven out of office
Army seizes power
in coup
POST-THAKSIN TIMELINE

27. Baker, C. & Phongpaichit, P. (2014). A history of Thailand (3rd ed.).
Melbourne, AU: Cambridge University Press.
Church, P. (Ed.). (2009). Thailand. In A Short History of South-east
Asia (pp. 156-179). Clementi Loop, SG: John Wiley & Sons (Asia) Pte
Ltd.
LoGerfo, J. & King, D. (1996). Thailand: Toward Democratic
Stability. Journal of Democracy 7(1), 102-117. Johns Hopkins
University Press. Retrieved March 8, 2019, from Project MUSE
database.
Mishra, P.P. (2010). The History of Thailand. Santa Barbara, CA:
Greenwood.
REFERENCES