Kiatnakin Phatra recently released a a book called 50 Years: The Making of the Modern Thai Economy to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their founding. The book summarizes key developments in Thailand’s economic history since the Second World War, and it’s certainly useful reference material if you have any interest in economics or development in…

Photos from a Democrat Party fundraiser recently made their way online, causing a buzz within political circles. Four large posters were present: two of the Democrat Party’s previous leaders, Chuan Leekpai and Banyat Bantadtan, along with the current leader, Jurin Laksanawisit, and secretary-general Chalermchai Srion. Conspicuously absent: Abhisit Vejjajiva, Jurin’s predecessor as leader.  The party…

I’ve compiled together a guide to all of the major Bangkok gubernatorial candidates’ policies. Their past achievements and roles were summarized and included along with their campaign platforms translated from Thai. The candidates listed are: The guide can be found here. I hope that you’ll find it useful.

The prospect that Paetongtarn Shinawatra is likely to be Pheu Thai’s nominee for prime minister at the next election brings with it a certain sense of déjà vu.  Most obviously, it echoes their decision 11 years earlier to nominate Yingluck Shinawatra to run the country, and of its predecessor Palang Prachachon party to pick Somchai…

Finally, a date to ponder. An event much speculated, oft-discussed but, it seemed, in the state of long term limbo, its certainty anything but certain. After years of deep freeze, partisan politics will be returning to Bangkok. The gubernatorial election, along with its associated local races, is soon to be officially scheduled.  Not that this…

One of the great traditions of Thai foreign policy is that of the bamboo bending with the wind, ever-shifting as it refuses to lean too heavily on any single great power. The inescapable realities of being a small state in a dangerous world dominates.  It is not difficult to understand, then, why many Thais naturally…

On the evening of January 30, not long after polls closed in Lak Si and Chatuchak, the Palang Pracharath candidate Saralrasmi Jenjaka spoke to the press. Sitting next to her was her husband Sira Jenjaka, the seat’s previous holder, removed from office late last year for failing to disclose a disqualifying criminal conviction. Sira said…

For a while, earlier in the pandemic, face masks became fashion statements. Search for “fashion masks” on the online shopping platform Shopee and you are inundated with choice. Competing with surgical masks to adorn the faces of the masses, it did not matter much in a relatively Covid-free Thailand in 2020 which mask one chose…

There were few topics on which more ink was spilled than our vaccine procurement program in 2021. Many feared at the start that the vaccination campaign would either go nowhere or that it would falter.  Now that we have entered 2022, it’s worth taking a look back at how Thailand’s vaccine strategy truly turned out. …

On December 15, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kruea-ngarm delivered an abnormally early new year’s message. He also included an unusual line, especially for the minister in charge of legal affairs: there may be “political changes” next year.  What could he possibly be talking about? Difficult to tell as it may be, 2022 does promise to…