Publisher's Synopsis
Thailand today is a very different country from Thailand a decade ago. The economic boom that began after 1985 has changed so much. Understanding Thailand today means understanding the boom - where it came from, what it has done, where it is leading?
This book first looks at the forces driving the boom - the global context; the dynamism of domestic business; the government's management of the economy; and the recruitment of labour for industrialization. Then it turns to the impact of the boom on society, politics, environment and culture - the rise of the city, the effect on the countryside, the transformation of politics, and the distribution of benefits and costs. Finally it questions where the boom is taking Thailand in the future.
Thailand is one of the world's most dynamic countries and also one of the least well-known. This book provides an introduction to modern Thailand which is concise but wide-ranging, serious but readable.
