A History of Thailand

'Since it was first published, in 2005, A History of Thailand has been hailed as an authoritative, lively, and readable account of Thailand's political, economic, social, and cultural history. From the early settlements in the Chao Phraya basin to today, Baker and Phongpaichit trace how a world of mandarin nobles and unfree peasants was transformed by colonialism, the expansion of the rice frontier, and the immigration of traders and labourers from southern China. They examine how the monarchy managed the foundation of a new nation-state at the end of the 19th century and how urban nationalists, ambitious generals, communist rebels, and business politicians competed to take control through the 20th century. They track Thailand's economic changes through the highs and lows of an economic boom, globalization, and the evolution of mass society and draw on popular culture, including the press, novels, songs, and film, to dramatize social trends. This edition contains a new chapter, on Thailand's turbulent politics since 2006 - including the 2006 and 2014 coups, the royal succession, and the 2019 election - and incorporates new sources and recent research throughout. Written in an accessible style and drawing on a wide range of Thai and western sources, A History of Thailand is an essential resource for history students and enthusiasts alike'--