Update 28/10/22: I am currently in the process of revising the pieces in this series. There will be some inconsistency in formatting.
‘The Story of Thai Democracy’ is a series of articles covering the political history of Thailand since the transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy.
An Introduction: an introduction to the goals of this series.
1. Royal Origins: the birth of the idea of a Thai democratic state under the absolute monarchs of the Chakri Dynasty.
2. The 1932 Revolution: the events that transformed Siam from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy.
3. Early Turmoil: the first few years of constitutional Siam under the rule of the Khana Ratsadon.
4. Phibun vs Pridi: the alternating in power of the two most influential men of early Thai democratic history, Plaek Phibunsongkram and Pridi Phanomyong.
5. The Triumvirate: Phibun’s return to power and his second administration.
6. Strongman Sarit: the administration of Sarit Thanarat and his authoritarianism.
7. Octobers of Tragedy: a narrative of the twin tragedies of 1973 and 1976.
8. Premier Prem: the administration of Prem Tinsulanonda and his style of rule.
9. Black May: the events of Black May, and the democratic period that followed.
10. From Thaksin to Today: Thaksin Shinawatra’s policies and how his downfall led to a crisis that continues to the present day.
Lessons Learned: what have we learned from the story of Thai democracy? Why is this study important?
Ken Mathis Lohatepanont 