History and culture

A short history of Thailand

The first ruler of Ayutthaya establishes theravada buddhism as the official religion and compiles the Dharmashastra, a legal code based on hindu sources and traditional Thai custom. After more than 400 years of power, in 1767, the Ayutthaya is destroyed by invading Burmese armies and its capital burned. After a single-reign capital established at Thonburi by Taksin, a new capital city was founded in 1782, across the Chao Phraya at the site of present-day Bangkok. The Kingdom of Krung Thep, the name is gradually replaced by Siam, is a fact. Siam is an absolute monarchy.

In 1932, a bloodless coup transforms the government of Thailand from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy. King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) initially accepts this change but later surrenders the kingship to his 10-year-old nephew. The first prime ministers are Phraya Manopakornnitithada (1932-1933) and Phraya Phaholphonphayuhasena (1933-1938). In 1938 Plaek Pibulsongkram of the Thailand People's Party becomes prime minister. The country is renamed Kingdom of Thailand in 1939. Although nominally a constitutional monarchy, Thailand is usually ruled by a series of military governments interspersed with brief periods of democracy. The military government has good relations with Japan, but it has to resign after the Japanese defeat. In 1944 civilian government is a fact, but the army acts regularily to prevent a stable civil democracy. Military rulers are Thawan Thamrongnawasawat (1946-1947), Plaek Pibulsongkram (1948-1957), Sarit Thanarat (1957-1963) and Thanom Kittikachorn (1963-1973).

In 1973 civilians come to power. Sanya Thammasak forms an interim government. He is succeeded by Seni Pramoj of the liberal Phak Prachathipat (Democratic Party, PP) in 1975 and a month later by Kukrit Pramoj of the Phak Kit Sangkhom (Social Action Party, KS). After the elections of 1976, that brings Seni Pramoj again to power, the army stages a new coup which leads to the premiership of Kriangsak Chomanan. Chomanan is succeeded by Prem Tinsulanond in 1980. In the 1980s civilian democratic political institutions slowly gain greater authority, culminating in 1988 when Chatichai Choonavan, leader of the conservative Phak Chart Thai (Thai Nation Party, CT), assumed office as the country's first democratically elected prime minister in more than a decade. Three years later, yet another bloodless coup ended his term. The army appoints Anand Panyarachun to head a largely civilian interim government and promise to hold elections in the near future. However, following inconclusive elections, former army commander Suchinda Kraprayoon is appointed prime minister. Domestic and international reaction to the violence that follows this appointment force Suchinda to resign.

Anand Panyarachun becomes interim prime minister again until new elections in 1992. Those elections are won by the political parties that had opposed the military. Chuan Leekpai of the PP becomes prime minister. The 1995 elections are won by the CT and its leader, Banharn Silpa-archa becomes prime minister. Following elections in 1996, Chavalit Youngchaiyudh of the conservative Phak Khwam Wang Mai (New Aspiration Party, KM) forms a coalition government and becomes prime minister. The onset of the Asian financial crisis cause a loss of confidence in the Chavalit government and force him to hand over power to Chuan Leekpai in 1997. Chuan forms a coalition government based on the themes of prudent economic management and institution of political reforms mandated by Thailand's 1997 constitution.

In the 2001 elections Thaksin Shinawatra and his personalist Phak Thai Rak Thai (Thai Love Thais Party, TRT) party win an overwhelming victory on a populist platform of economic growth and development. TRT enjoys an absolute majority in parliament.