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The Foreign Policy of Thailand

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Part of the book series: International Political Economy Series ((IPES))

Abstract

Central to an understanding of Thai foreign policy are a number of historical factors which stem from the Kingdom’s role within the larger international political-economic system as well as from internal forces unique to Thailand. As the only nation of Southeast Asia never to be formally colonized, Thailand has not shared the xenophobic traditions of its neighbors. This first historical factor helps explain the remarkable assimilative character of the Thais. The lack of colonial experience allowed the Thais to adapt and adopt those aspects of Westernization which they deemed appropriate to their traditional culture. Thus Thailand’s evolution from a traditional to a modern society has been relatively smooth.

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© 1990 David Wurfel and Bruce Burton

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Neher, C.D. (1990). The Foreign Policy of Thailand. In: Wurfel, D., Burton, B. (eds) The Political Economy of Foreign Policy in Southeast Asia. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-20813-5_10

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