Thailand

Political and Security Environment

Background. Thailand has existed as a unified national entity since 1792 when, following a Burmese invasion that destroyed the previous capital of Ayutthaya, a nationwide uprising drove out the invaders and established the modern centralized state. Prior to that time, it was a loose federation of several kingdoms, including Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, and Chiang Mai. In Thai, the country is called Muang Thai (Land of the Thai), but the...