Overview
Formerly known as the Kingdom of Siam, Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia never to have been colonized by a European nation. From the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries, Thailand's monarchy skillfully used diplomacy and geography to serve their interests: They opened the country's doors to Western influences and trade but kept nations such as France and Great Britain at bay by positioning Thailand as a buffer state between French-controlled Cambodia and British-controlled Burma (present-day Myanmar). Although Thailand's monarchy lost much of its real power in 1932, when a military coup forced the king to accept a constitutional monarchy, the present king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, serves as both a symbol of the country and protector of the nation's predominant religion and philosophy-Buddhism. Despite ongoing political instability throughout much of the second half of the twentieth century, Thailand's economy began to prosper, enjoying the world's highest growth rate from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. Today, Thailand is the world's largest exporter of rice and is a major exporter of rubber, tin, and textiles.About the Author:
Douglas A. Phillips is a former president of the National Council for Geographic Education
Synopsis
Formerly known as the Kingdom of Siam, Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia never to have been colonized by a European nation. From the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries, Thailand's monarchy skillfully used diplomacy and geography to serve their interests: They opened the country's doors to Western influences and trade but kept nations such as France and Great Britain at bay by positioning Thailand as a buffer state between French-controlled Cambodia and British-controlled Burma (present-day Myanmar). Although Thailand's monarchy lost much of its real power in 1932, when a military coup forced the king to accept a constitutional monarchy, the present king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, serves as both a symbol of the country and protector of the nation's predominant religion and philosophy-Buddhism. Despite ongoing political instability throughout much of the second half of the twentieth century, Thailand's economy began to prosper, enjoying the world's highest growth rate from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. Today, Thailand is the world's largest exporter of rice and is a major exporter of rubber, tin, and textiles.
About the Author:
Douglas A. Phillips is a former president of the National Council for Geographic Education
Children's Literature
Once known as Siam, Thailand stands out as the only nation in Southeast Asia never to have been conquered and colonized by western powers. From the 16th century through the 19th, the monarchs of Siam were successful in balancing their need for independence with the selfish interests of other powers. As a result, Siam became Thailand and a nation and its people were spared the yoke of servitude imposed on so many other Asian people. Now a constitutional nation, Thailand still maintains its royal family in much the same way that Great Britain does. A land of Buddhism, jungle tracts and extremes of wealth and poverty, Thailand is presently a booming nation. It is the story of this Asian land that is well told in this illustrated volume in the "Modern World Nations" series. Readers who peruse this well-written and fact-filled book will come away with a far better grasp on the elemental qualities that make Thailand such a proud and fascinating land. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck