Thailand Reviewer

THAILAND

Also known as the Crown Jewel, this country is the only country not to be colonized by Western Influence

Thailand

What is the current constitution of Thailand?

Thailand 2017 Constitution

What is the previous name of Thailand?

Siam

What were the reasons for Thailand never being colonized?

• Diplomacy

• Trade

• National Identity

Who was the ruler that made Thailand's trade more Europeanized?

Chulalongkorn (Rama V)

To whom did Thailand trade with?

The French and British East Indies

When did Thailand acceded Japan to pass through their territory for Japan's invasion of Burma and Malaya?

December 8, 1941

What is the reason for Thailand's strong national identity?

History of a unified kingdom helped create a sense of national unity

What is the type of government of Thailand?

Constitutional Monarchy

Parliamentary

Unitary

In Thailand's government, what is the role of the King/monarch?

Symbol of national unity and stability

What is the prevalent religion in Thailand?

Buddhism

Who is Thailand's current prime minister?

Paetongtarn Shinawatra

What type of democracy is Thailand according to Economist Intelligence Unity Democracy Index?

Thailand is a flawed democracy with a score of 5.44

What are the factors for Thailand being a flawed democracy?

• Electoral Process and Pluralism

• Civil Liberties

• Functioning of Government

• Political Participation

• Political Culture

When did Thailand have such an amazing economic growth?

mid-1980s to the late 1990s, with an average annual GDP growth rate of around 7.5% between 1960 and 1996. 

Having a _________ made Thailand a gateway to lots of countries which made them ideal to be a buffer state

strategic geographical location

Who is Thailand's Royal Army Leader?

General Pana Klaewblaudtuk

Who is the current Chief of State of Thailand?

King Rama X (Maha Vajiralongkorn)

What is the party that made Srettha Thavisin an attractive leader for Thailand?

Pheu Thai

(True or False) As Thailand was never colonized, they were also never influenced by the West

False; they were still influenced by the West in their decisions despite never being colonized

What are the transnational issues of Thailand?

• Insurgence among Muslims

• Territorial Disputes (Laos, Mekong River)

• Rebel Groups

• Golden Triangle (Drugs and Illegal Migrants' Gateway)

• Rohingya refugees being detained in inhumane conditions

What is the rank of Thailand among SEA Countries when it comes to GDP?

4th

What is the rank of Thailand among SEA Countries in terms of Transparency?

3rd (following Singapore and Malaysia)

What is the rank of Thailand among the countries worldwide in terms of Transparency?

78th

What is the cause for weak transparency of Thailand/them being corrupt?

• Weak Institutions

• Lack of Transparency (no freedom of information)

• Culture of Impunity

As the corruption is high in Thailand, is the human development low?

No. Human Development is relatively high in Thailand despite its extreme corruption

What are the factors for high human development in Thailand?

• Economic Growth

• Investment in Education and Healthcare

• Tourism

• Strong Social Safety Net

What is the dynasty that rules Thailand?

Chakri Dynasty

Considered the birthplace of the Thai nation.

Sukhothai

An inscribed obelisk discovered in 1833

Sukhothai stone

Established in 1351

Kingdom of Ayudtha

Developed the system of SAKDINA: a social structure pyramid.

King Trailok’s

What it the organisation of the sangha (Buddhist monks) under royal patronage?

Parallel hierarchial

___strength attributed to its openness to trade and the exchange of ideas brought by traders.

Ayudhya's

Founder of Rattanakosin Kingdom and the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty (Siam).

Made Bangkok as the capital in 1782

Rama I

A former Thai politician and army officer who became the 29th prime minister of Thailand after seizing power in the 2014 coup d'état

Prayut Chan-o-cha

Governance Reforms under Rama I

• Labour control reforms involved mass registrations and tattooing of subjects.

• Reconstructed the sangha hierarchy and revised kingdom laws.

• Translated important works, including the Ramayana.

Faced pressure from France and Great Britain, granting economic and legal concessions.

King Mongkut (Rama IV)

• Reduced and fixed import/export duties.

• Abolished ruling-class trading monopolies.

• Granted British subjects extraterritorial rights.

Bowring Treaty (1855)

Focused on the trinity of Nation, Religion, and King to foster nationalist pride. Aimed to curtail extraterritorial rights and regain control over tariffs.

Rama VI

Introduced centralized bureaucracy and modern military in the mid-1880s.

Chulalongkorn (Rama V)

Led by the Prime Minister and a Cabinet responsible for administration and legislation.

Executive Branch

The King is a Buddhist and Upholder of religions

Eligibility

Advisory body to the head of state.

Privy Council

Divided into 76 provinces (Changwat), each supervised by a governor.

Local Government of Thailand

The treaty between France and Britain that guaranteed the independence of most of the territory which today forms Thailand.

Anglo-French Confrontation in South-East Asia

Who is the founder of Ayudtha

U. Thong (Chinese Merchant)

To carry out fundamental state, economic and societal reforms.

Old Aristocratic Elite

He overthrown the absolute monarchy in 1932

Lt.Colonel Phibun Songkhram

Authoritarianism in two ways: return to Thai traditions of social order and accelerated the economic development and social.

Sarit Thanarat

Known as the Upper House

House of Senate

By a group of military officers and bureaucrats against King Prajadhipok (Rama VI)

Coup D Etat

They are the yellow shirts which is known that they are Pro-democracy

People’s Alliance Democracy (PAD)

They are the red shirts

People’s Power Party (PPP)

What is the nature of Thailand’s Foreign Policy that has been based on the ideas of Flexibility, Resilience and Pragmatism

“Like Bamboo, you bend in the Wind.”

It weakened the power of absolute monarchy

Great Depression of 1929

Dominated governments would pursue modernisation, economic growth and the expansion of education and other services

Successive Military

Constitutional Court Powers on the Removal of Individual Legislators

Legislative

Known as the lower house

House of Representatives

It holds the position of Head the Thai Armed Forces

The King

It is consist of the House of Representative (500) and the Senate (250)

National Assembly

It is responsible for the administration and management of various government agencies and department.

The Cabinent

Specialized administrative, labor, and tax courts are subordinate to the Supreme Administrative Court.

Judicial

He introduced the trinity of “Nation, Religion (Buddhism) and King” as the focus of popular loyalty and promoted organisations and public spectacles designed to inculcate nationalist pride.

Rama VI

Removed the Sakdini: Chaophraya Chari (Rama I)

Taksin