Northern Thailand - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 950

cosmopolitan port on the Asian trade route courted by European nations attracted to the
region for commodities and potential colonies, though the small nation managed to thwart
foreign takeovers. For 400 years Ayuthaya dominated most of present-day Thailand until
the Burmese destroyed the capital in 1767.
The Thais eventually rebuilt their capital in present-day Bangkok and established the
Chakri dynasty, which continues to occupy the throne today. As Western imperialism
marched across the region, King Mongkut (Rama IV; r 1851-68) and his son and suc-
cessor King Chulalongkorn (Rama V; r 1868-1910) successfully steered Thailand into the
modern age without becoming a colonial vassal.
A Struggling Democracy
In 1932 a peaceful coup converted Thailand into a constitutional monarchy loosely based
on the British model. Nearly half a century of political chaos followed. During the
mid-20th century, a series of anticommunist military dictators wrestled each other for
power, successfully suppressing democratic representation and civil rights. Student
protests in the 1970s called for a reinstatement of a constitution and the end of military
rule. In October 1976, a demonstration on the campus of Thammasat University in
Bangkok was quashed by the military, resulting in deaths and injuries. Many activists
went underground to join armed communist insurgency groups hiding in the northeast.
In the 1980s and 1990s there were slow steps towards democracy and even a return to a
civilian government. During these tumultuous times, Rama IX defined a new political role
for the monarchy, as a paternal figure who restrained excesses in the interests of all Thais.
Economic & Political Roller Coaster
During the 1990s, Thailand was one of the so-called tiger economies that imploded in
1997, leading to a recession that lasted nearly three years. Thailand's convalescence pro-
gressed remarkably well and it pulled an 'early exit' from the International Monetary
Fund's loan package in mid-2003.
The ambitious and charismatic billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra became prime minister
in 2001 on a populist platform. He delivered on his promises for affordable health care
and village development funds, which won him diehard support among the working class,
especially in the impoverished northeast.