ABSTRACT
Surrounded by Burma (Mayanma) to the west, Laos and Kampuchea (Cambodia) to the east, and Malaysia to the south, Thailand, of all the countries of Southeast Asia, is unique. Not only does it have a deep-rooted and ancient civilization originating in southern China, 1 but it has also been strongly influenced by the Indian subcontinent, especially Sri Lanka, from whence—via Burma—came Theravada Buddhism, the faith followed today by over 90 percent of the Thai population. Part of the function of the Thai education system is to preserve this Buddhist culture. Moreover, Thailand, alone of the Southeast Asian nations, was never formally colonized by a European power. Its rulers have for generations successfully fended off the incursions of foreign powers and Thailand can justifiably lay claim to its title, Muang Thai, "Land of the Free." 2
