ABSTRACT

One of the most important developments in world politics has been the militarization of many countries of the Third World, including Thailand, a small country in Southeast Asia. This chapter investigates the militarization in Thailand, especially its causes and manifestations. No matter what motivates the military to intervene in politics, military intervention through a coup d'etat as a form of militarization seems to be widespread in the Third World. Militarization of the Thai society has been manifested in several forms: military interventions by coups d'etat, military rule, and expansion of the rule of the military into economic and development arenas, and the proliferation of paramilitary organizations. The process of militarization of Thai society has been caused by both internal and external factors. Externally, the events in Indochina, especially the perceived threat from Vietnam after its occupation of Kampuchea and the presence of Vietnamese forces along the eastern border of Thailand, have provided justification for further militarization.