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Thailand's Economic and Social Development in The Article Thailand’s Economic and Social Development in the Modern Period: from Open Door Policy to Good Governance Arpharatsami Namanee* The Institute of East Asian Studies, Thammasat University, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand. Abstract Background: There are the distinct factors affected the economic and social development in Thailand in each period. The study of the historical background of the economic and social development in Thailand is important for understanding its evolution. Furthermore, it provides the data and lesson learned for the present and the future. Objective: The objectives of this study are to explain and demonstrate the economic and social development in Thailand from the King Rama IV period of reign that Thailand has opened the door for Capitalism to the present period. Results: The signif icant results elucidate the Thai economic and social development in the modern period is effective in some aspects such as the GDP growth, the Thai people’s quality of life, the public health care. In the other hand, there are many problems remain come together with the development process such as the illiterate democracy, the environment and natural resources have been depleted and the environment degraded, the increasing of the income gaps etc. Discussion and Conclusions: the sustainable development is necessary so we have to studies to propose the effective strategies for the economic and social development in Thailand. The rational choice development approach will be employed in the future. Keyword: Economic and Social Development, Good Governance, Public Policy Historical Background long under Burmese power. Even in 1767 The Ayuthian period of Siam, the name Phya Taksin and his followers were regaining of Thailand used before 1939’s history came control of parts of Siam, and by 1771 Phya to the end in 1767 (b.e.2310) when Autthaya, Taksin controllnearly all of Siam of the Ayuthian the capital city, was captured and sacked by period. He was the later crowed king. For the Burmese armies. But Siam did not remain several years he ruled wisely, but then began * Corresponding author: [email protected] The International Journal of East Asian Studies to show signs of madness, and in 1782 was were expanded. As the results, the population executed. His successor was the founder of and urban societies were spread. Unavoid- the present Chakri dynasty. The Siam kings of ably, the great powers in Europe colonized the Chakri dynasty are given the title of “Rama” and sought the resources and the markets for (Ingram, C.J., 1997) releasing their commodities in many parts of Since the mid-1850s, in King Rama IV the world. Necessarily, Siam started to open or King Mongkut’s period of reign (1851-1868), the door for Western diplomats, traders, culture, the most dramatic trend of Siam’s economic globalization and capitalism. The modern period and social development has been the trans- of the history of Thailand’s economic and social formation to the modern period. The f irst three development is as follows: kings of the new dynasty had little to do with Western nations, although toward the end of Open the Door Period 1851-1867 (B.E. the third reign it became apparent that the 2394-2410) traditional isolation from the West could not long Since the beginning of the period of be maintained. There were Western missionar- King Rama IV or King Mongkut who was ready ies and a few traders in Siam during the f irst to accept globalization and capitalism, when three reigns. , but the principle off icial Western British approach Burma and France desired to contacts were made though the missions of occupy Indo-China region for opening the door John Crawfurd (1821), Captain Henry Burney to Yunnan and Tibet. On April 18, 1855, Sir (1825), and Sir John Brooke (1850) for Great John Bowring, the envoy extraordinary of Great Britain, and Roberts Mission (1833) from the Britain respectfully engaged the royal message United Stated. Burney and Roberts succeeded from Queen Victoria, the monarch of Great in negotiating treaties but they were very limited Britain to Siam and King Mongkut unavoidably ones. (Ingram, C.J., 1997) The studies begin accepted change made the task of Sir John with the reign of King Rama IV or King Mong- Bowring. (Pensri Duke, 1984). kut when he became the king in 1851, he had Bowring Treaty is the friendship, trade learned several foreign languages and much and marine treaty between Great Britain and of Western history and science and he is the Siam but known as the “Bowring Treaty” was king who employed Mrs. Anna Leonowens the Siam’s socio-economic “open door policy”. to teach his children. While the great powers The results of Bowring Treaty brought the in Europe had scientif ifc and industrial revolution changing of Siam’s monopoly-trade system from the 1750s to the 1850s it began with to free-trade system thus Siam revoked the industrial revolution in Great Britain. It is the traditional tax to the international tax system. consequence of the Steam engine inven- Over the year, the international tax system tion by Thomas Newcomen in 1712 (www. attracted many traders from many countries and encyclopedia.com, 2012) and was developed the Siam-traders were also increased. by James Watt in 1765. (www.egr.msu.edu, Furthermore, Bowring Treaty encour- 2012) Afterwards, many industries in Europe aged Siam’s modernization with exposure the 2 Thailand’s Economic and Social Development in the Modern Period: from Open Door Policy to Good Governance Arpharatsami Namanee Western civilization. Beside this, Siam must powers although lost 7 territories to Great change the tradition law system enforced over Britain and France from the year 1867 to 1909 200 years to international law system. On the (b.e.2410-2452). Because of the two great other hand, there were the negative impacts of powers had the strong royal armies, Siam this treaty such as Siam had lost extra territorial necessarily had implemented the defensive- right to Great Britain. Thereafter, King Mongkut foreign policy. As a results, Siam had lost had signed the treaties with many countries 518,700 square kilometers of territory. It is such as France (1856), The United State noticeable that the most territories Siam had (1856), Japan and other European countries. lost were used to be the Siam’s colonies which (Pensri Duke, 1984). Great Britain had opened were not settled the border until 1907. (Pensri the Siam’s market, Siam became Great Britain’s Duke, 1984). partnership in capitalism system. “Bowring Firstly, Siam lost Outer Khmer to France Treaty” was the f irst constraint which increased in 1867 (b.e.2410) in King Mongkut’s period Siam’s trade and the second constraint was the of reign after French had occupied Saigon geography. According to Chao Phya River as and southern Vietnam. Secondly, Siam lost the appropriate route for the trade-boat more Sipsongjuthai in Lao to France, after French than Mekong River, so Siam became wealthier already had occupied Khmer with the allegation than other countries in Indo-China. The begin- “Haw’s aggression” so France sent its Royal ning of the capitalism in Siam f irstly caused army into Sipsongjuthai and eliminated the by the Western colonialism and then devel- Siam’s Royal army from this territory in 1888 oped together with the bureaucratic capitalists (b.e.2431) in King Chulalongkorn’s period of and the Chinese capitalists. Moreover, the reign. (Pensri Duke,1984). Thirdly, Siam lost worker class arisen in this era to serve many “the west land of Siam” to Great Britain in 1892 companies. (b.e.2435) because this land was abundant of the valuable forest. The worst crisis came The Struggle in the Colonialism Period in 1893 (b.e.2436), when French gunboat 1867-1910 (B.E. 2410-2453) “Le Lutin” forced their way up the Chao Phya Most of changes were set in motion River and French troops occupied Chandaburi through the leadership of King Rama IV and in the East because French desired to occupied his son, King Rama V or King Chulalongkorn. almost the land in the left of the Mekong River. A distinctive feature of the period cover by Siam could not resist the great power so King these two important reigns especially in King Chulalongkorn signed the treaty with French Chulalongkorn’s period of reign (1868-1910) on October 3, 1893 (b.e.2436). The results of when Siam encountered with the two great this treaties caused the loosing of the most powers, Great Britain and France. They important territories namely The Kingdom of desired to occupy Khmer, Lao and the land of Lao and Sipsongjuthai approximately 143,800 northern- Malay Peninsula. The kings of Siam square kilometers and the citizen around endeavored to protect Siam from the two great 600,000 persons. In the next decade, Siam lost 3 The International Journal of East Asian Studies the territories for two times to France; There 3) Siam’s economics system was reformed; were the land in the right of the Mekong River King Chulalongkorn modernized the f iscal, (Manoplai, Champasak and Loungprabang) in the banking and the infrastructure system. 1903 (b.e.2446). Moreover, in 1906 (b.e.2449) (Likhit Dhiravegin, 2003) The many aspects Siam lost the inner Khmer that wealthy of of the reform in King Chulalongkorn’s period agriculture and f ishery to France. Lately, in of reign brought Siam more modern than 1908 (b.e.2451) Siam lost Atriburi, Kelantan, it used to be. Obviously, the king’s duties Terengganu and Pales approximately 15,000 benef itted to Siam into the social structure. square miles of territory to Great Britain.
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