Thailand

Fast Facts

Location: Southeast Asia

Capital: Bangkok

Population: 70.18 million (2022)

Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy

Language(s): Thai

Climate: Subtropical humid

GDP: USD $505.98 billion (2021)

Human Development Index Ranking: 0.777 (Moderate-High, 2019)

Overview

Thailand is, arguably, the cosmopolitan heartland of the Indochinese Peninsula. It has the highest GDP and second highest population in the region, Bangkok holds the current title of being the city most visited by tourists in the world, and life expectancy has grown somewhat steadily since records began in 1960. The majority-Buddhist population of Thailand enjoys steadily growing wealth and development - but also political instability. Democracy has remained shaky and uncertain in the kingdom over the past two decades, with military coup d’etats becoming more of a rule than an exception. From the outside, Thailand seems to be a “tale of two countries”, in which military rule backed by a widely-revered king boasts a stable economy, steady development, and a booming tourism industry.

History

Credit: sasint/Pixabay, via TheCultureTrip.com

The earliest archaeological finds in Thailand show evidence of widespread rice cultivation approximately 5,000 years ago. The name “Thailand” originates from the first settlers belonging to the ethno-linguistic Tai group of peoples. The country’s earliest, and other, name of Siam comes from a Sanskrit word syama, meaning dark brown (also in reference to the native people). Otherwise, much of what we know of early Thailand was dominated by the Khmer Empire of Cambodia, with much of the local history also coming from Chinese records of demographic shifts in, to, from, and near modern-day Yunnan and Guangxi.

The establishment of the Sukhothai Kingdom in the mid-13th century in modern-day southwestern Thailand indicated the first administrative capital of a uniquely “Thai” nation. During the rule of King Ramkhamhaeng, Thailand established its own writing system and widespread practicing of Buddhism. King Ramkhamhaeng’s legal system also guaranteed religious and economic freedom, good governance and the rule of law, and religious morality.

With the death of King Ramkhamhaeng came the swift decline of Sukhothai as a cultural and political power, and its ultimate absorption into the more powerful Ayutthaya Kingdom. Under this kingdom’s rule, the Ayutthaya became strong enough to invade, and trigger the decline of, the Khmer Empire that had formerly dominated modern-day Thailand centuries ago. The conquered Khmer thus introduced Hindu ideas to the Ayutthaya, such as the concept of an almost godlike-status assigned to monarchs - a trend which more or less continues today. By the late 18th century, conflicts with Burma had escalated to the point of the Ayutthaya being invaded and destroyed - until a pair of national heroes (Taksin and Chakri) retaliated, liberated, and re-unified Thailand. The dynasty subsequently established, the Chakri, moved its capital to Bangkok and remains in power to this day.

During the colonial era, Siam was one of the only countries in the world to avoid European colonialisation. This was achieved through two means, and primarily under the reign of King Chulalongkorn. The first reason for Thailand’s retained sovereignty came from luck: its geographic position between Burma and Vietnam meant that it could position itself as an advantageous buffer zone to the British and French Empires, thus maintaining a state of neutrality beneficial to all parties involved. The second reason was based on successful negotiations with European powers: by undertaking internal political reforms and “Western-ising” its government, centralising political power and creating programs to promote a “Thai” identity. King Chulalongkorn’s skilled diplomacy in navigating and dealing with European powers maintains his status in Thailand as the “Great Beloved King”.

In the early 1900s, Western (mainly British) administration officers overseeing Thai political developments and the establishment of the national railway network led to a natural alliance with Britain in both world wars. During the interim period, however, a bloodless revolution took place which overthrew the ruling oligarchies and established a more balanced and fair constitutional monarchy. During the Second World War, the pro-Japanese puppet government in Thailand declared war on the USA in 1942, but hostilities never formally broke out due to the ambassador (and later Thai Prime Minister’s) refusal to deliver the declaration to the American federal government. Despite a pro-Japanese military coup in 1947, Thai forces would continue to fight alongside American and South Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War, a conflict which Thailand otherwise largely avoided the effects of.

Since 1932, Thailand has faced over 18 military coups - ten of them occurring during the reign of the previous king. The current king of Thailand is King Maha Vajiralongkorn Rama X.

Economy

Although Thailand’s political situation is consistently in a state of minor flux, its economy has managed to weather these storms with relative ease. In a single generation from 1960 - 1996, Thailand’s GDP has boomed from an average growth of 7.5% each year. Even during the Asian Financial Crisis of the late 1990s, it continued to grow at a rate of 5% each year. This has led to a smooth decline in national poverty rates, falling from 42% in 2000 to a mere 6.2% in 2019, and by 2011, more than half of Thailand’s population was enrolled in tertiary education for the first time ever.

This stable growth that has sustained Thailand even during times of domestic and international uncertainty is explained by a variety of factors. The first is domestic policy: the Thai government mandates a national minimum wage of approximately USD $10 per day, well-developed infrastructure, and a series of policies friendly to investors and free-enterprise. This has led to Thailand finding itself in the top 30 countries worldwide for receivers of foreign direct investment as of 2018.

Thailand’s main exports include rubber, electronics, circuitry, automotive and mechanical parts, and gold. Imports largely consist of petroleum and broadcasting equipment. The main risks to Thailand’s economic growth have been identified as an aging population and household debt levels.

Diplomacy From the Kitchen

Credit: Ruth Georgiev

It’s no accident that nearly every town in the West seems to have a Thai restaurant, despite its population being less than that of Germany. The reason that there are so many of them around is simple: the government probably put them there.

Thai-Americans number less than 300,000, and yet there are 5,400 Thai restaurants in the United States alone, due to culinary diplomacy actively pursued by the Thai government. Launched in 2001, the Global Thai program aimed to finance an additional 1,500 restaurants around the world in an effort to promote interest in, and relations with, Thailand. But the benefits of gastro-diplomacy go beyond winning over the hearts, minds, and stomachs of customers through cultural awareness. It can boost national economies by encouraging the overseas sale of domestically-made products required for specific cuisines.

The Global Thai campaign was established by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Labor, and more. It began by awarding the “Thai Select” moniker to restaurants considered to be sufficiently authentic, thus attracting more keen customers. This has then been expanded upon within Thailand itself, where chefs are trained by the government to travel overseas to establish restaurants with public sponsorship.

The program has been so successful that some countries, such as New Zealand, now even have visas specifically offered to incoming Thai chefs.

Trivia

-Bangkok’s full name is more of a description than a name, is the longest place name in the world, and is rooted in Sanskrit. The full name is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.

-Because the number 5 is pronounced in Thai as ha, many modern Thai will write “55555” as a shorthand for laughter in informal messaging, such as texts and social media.

-Thai New Year (the Songkran Festival) is celebrated with a nationwide water fight. This is also celebrated in Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.

-The phrase “white elephant” refers to a practice of ancient Siamese kings giving white elephants to those they disliked, as they were too sacred to be useful or disposed of, but too expensive to care for. As such, “white elephant” is a colloquial idiom in English used to refer to gifts that cause great inconvenience.