Embracing proaction : the role of self-perception in Thailand's post-Cold War foreign policy

This thesis examines Thai foreign policy since the end of the Cold War as a focusing period. In its essence, it proposes that Thailand's post-Cold War foreign policy can be viewed as more proactive than what the conventional wisdom holds. Considering the strong influence of nationalistic sentiment amongst Thai people, this thesis suggests to look closely at the role of how this factor plays part in constructing Thailand's self-perception. In other words, it examines to what extent the way in which Thai policy-makers see their country, influences Thai foreign policy-making process and the possibility of transforming Thai foreign policy behaviour from reactive to proactive one. This thesis traces back the origin of this self-perception. It argues that Thailand's self-perception is a product of social construction throughout its modern nation­ state building process. It has resulted in a consensus view that Thailand and its people are in a better quality than its neighbouring countries. Coupled with its strong geopolitical position in mainland Southeast Asia, Thai policy-makers have been convinced that Thailand is a natural leading state in this area. This thesis argues that this self-perception has remained in its essence. The Cold War environment in which Thailand became a frontline state against communism accentuated this view whilst its surrounding neighbours were viewed with an antagonistic attitude. The prevailing globalisation since the end of the Cold War did not alter this self­ perception in its core. However, this thesis further contends that since the nature of the Thai state has transformed into the competition state model in which economic competitiveness replaced national security as an ultimate national interest. State's strategy then revolved into promoting its competitiveness. One way to achieve this goal was to promote economic co-operation. Operating within this logic, Thai decision-makers therefore maintained the perception that Thailand was in a suitable position politically and economically and should be a leading actor to foster regional co-operation. This thesis shows that Thailand's aspirations to play a leading role in Southeast Asia's development arguably reflect in its foreign policy throughout the post-Cold War period. Regional economic co-operation schemes preoccupied most of Thai governments' agenda since Chatichai Choonhavan until Thaksin Shinawatra. This thesis gives a detailed study of two major foreign policy ases in the Chuan government and the Thaksin government. They reveal that regional aspirations in both cases mattered in shaping foreign policy goals. Regardless of its success or failure to achieve these goals, this feature was a part of Thai foreign policy-making that shapes foreign policy direction and behaviour in the post-Cold War era. Therefore, this research finds that Thai foreign policy in the post-Cold War era has gradually become more proactive partly based on the self-perception and a re­ emergence of regional aspirations. Contrary to the conventional belief depicting Thai foreign policy as 'bamboo bending with the wind'-a policy of accommodating external forces in order to preserve its national security and status quo, this thesis demonstrates that Thailand has increasingly played a regional leading role. This leadership involved an active role in regional agenda setting and facilitating regional co-operation. This leading role is expected to illuminate Thailand's position in the region

A review of Thailand's foreign policy in mainland Southeast Asia: exploring an ideational approach

In the post-Cold War period, mainland Southeast Asia has been significantly marked by peace and stability, despite occasional bilateral tensions among neighbouring countries. Within this environment Thailand has been a primary advocate for various sub-regional co-operation initiatives since the early 1990s. Interestingly, these regional projects have mainly been Thailand's own self-initiated version, in which Thailand acts as the main co-ordinator, sometimes bypassing broader regional entities, especially ASEAN. Conventional wisdom may explain this phenomenon by resorting to the economic rationale in Thai foreign policy. However, in some circumstances economic benefit is not a decisive factor considering associated costs. This article, therefore, proposes to use an ideational lens to reassess Thailand's regional leadership by focusing on the role of self-perception/identity in determining Thailand's foreign policy preferences. It argues that Thailand's identity as a leading country in mainland Southeast Asia helps sustain its active role in sub-regional endeavours. The Quadrangle Economic Co-operation (QEC) initiative is examined here to show the intervention of Thailand's self-perception in the endurance of its leadership in this regional initiative