Thailand: Shifting Ground Between the Us and a Rising China

In this authoritative modern history, Benjamin Zawacki tells the story of Thailand’s changing role in the world order, chronicling the country’s move from a key ally of the United States and a bulwark against communism in Southeast Asia after World War 2 to its shifting allegiance towards a rising China in the 21st century.

This fully updated edition now covers the aftermath of the 2014 coup d’etat, the impacts of climate change and China’s ＂Belt and Road＂ initiative and Thailand’s responses to the rise of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Featuring major interviews with high ranking sources in Thailand and the US, including deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand is a fascinating insight into the inner workings of the Thai elite and their dealings with the US and China.

Benjamin Zawacki was a visiting fellow in the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School in 2014-15, and a term member on the Council on Foreign Relations through 2016. He was Amnesty International’s Southeast Asia researcher for five years, and served as a policy advisor to President Jimmy Carter and two other ＂Elders＂ in Myanmar. A regular contributor to the media in Southeast Asia, he has lived in Thailand for 15 years.