Thammasat Journal of History

กองบรรณาธิการ วารสารประวัติศาสตร์ มธ — 2025-12-06

Editorial Team

กองบรรณาธิการ วารสารประวัติศาสตร์ มธ — 2025-12-06

Note from the Editor

Julaporn Euarukskul — 2025-12-06

Phibunsongkhram's State Visit to Spain and the Rapprochement of Diplomatic Relations between Thailand and Spain during the Cold War

Thep Boontanondha — 2025-12-06

This research examines the rapprochement between Thailand and Spain during the early Cold War through the state visit of Phibunsongkhram to Spain. After the United States of America pursued rapprochement with Spain in an effort to curb the spread of Communism in Europe, the Thai government, following U.S. diplomatic strategy, also began to reconcile with Spain. One of the significant policies was the state visit of Phibunsongkhram to Spain in 1955. Both Thailand and Spain shared anti-Communist policies aligned with those of the United States. To strengthen relations, Phibunsongkhram decided to reconcile with Spain by opening an embassy in Madrid in 1950 and sending civil servants to visit the country. In 1955, Phibunsongkhram and La-iad Phibunsongkhram, along with their entourage, decided to travel to Spain to visit Generalissimo Francisco Franco. During the visit, the Prime Minister requested that the King bestow royal regalia upon Franco and the Spanish officials. Phibunsongkhram’s state visit was warmly received by the Spanish government, which was eager to strengthen its relationship with Thailand. Later that same year, the Thai government resolved to support Spain’s membership in the United Nations.

Great Friend Russia: Groupthink and Foreign Policy Decision Making among Thai and Russian Elites during 1893-1904

Pran Jintrawet — 2025-12-06

This article investigates the factors that underpinned the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Russia. While this subject has been extensively explored by both domestic and international scholars, existing studies predominantly employ a Realist framework within international relations or adopt a singular national perspective (either Thai or Russian). Consequently, this article offers a novel interpretation by analyzing primary documents, including King Rama V’s letters, Foreign Office Records, and personal diaries, through the lens of ‘groupthink.’ This concept emphasizes the agency level and facilitates the analysis of factors contributing to collective foreign policy decisions. Applying this framework, the article argues that during the period of 1893-1904, both Thai and Russian elites perceived the establishment of official relations as a crucial means to advance their respective foreign policy objectives. For Thailand, the relationship with Russia was considered the most viable avenue to facilitate negotiations with France. Conversely, for Russia, Thailand was viewed as an integral component of a broader eastward strategic policy. Nevertheless, the establishment of Thai-Russian relations ultimately did not fully achieve its initial intended purposes for either party.

The Duality of Khukhan’s Political Development during the 19th- 20th Centuries

Boripat Inpata — 2025-12-06

This article aims to study the political development of Khukhan and tries to understand the history of the area through James C. Scott’s idea of State Evasion. The article suggests that the geography of the Khukhan area, which is located on a plain next to the Phanom Dongrek mountain range, had influenced the habitat and social development of its population into a form of duality. While there were a variety of cities, there also existed state–evading societies inhabiting the area. The political changes in the region around the 14^th century led the area into a vacuum of power, which dwarfed the city communities but empowered the state–evading societies, resulting in a fragmented political landscape without a single group of dominant local rulers. When Siam expanded its influence in the region around the late 19^th century and endowed Khukhan as a feudal city to control the area, this element of duality caused the politics of Khukhan to become fragmented and ambiguous. Stability began to emerge when Siam sought to tighten its grip on power after Anuwong’s war. The process gave more power to the ruler of Khukhan but also led to the assimilation into Siam, like other cities in Northeastern Thailand.

Teacher’s Day, Instructor Biographies, and Royal Speeches: Building Professional Educator Identities in Thailand from, 1957 to 1977

Bhanubongs Siddhisara — 2025-12-06

This article examines the process through which a conservative identity was constructed for Thai teachers between 1957 and 1977. At the time, the Thai state transitioned toward a political consensus that positioned the monarchy as the national moral authority and arbiter. Teachers were mobilized as a core social base to support this transformation by adopting a conservative, monarchist identity and ideology. This process is analysed in the context of Teachers’ Day ceremonies and published instructor biographies (pravati kru) promoting exemplary teachers as moral models, as well as through royal speeches by King Bhumibol Adulyadej to senior educators award ceremonies. These practices were cultural power instruments, enabling the state to ideologically control the teaching profession over two decades.

Prawo and Prataa in Lao Historical Documents

Sutida Tonlerd — 2025-12-06

The researcher aims to investigate the history of Prawo and Prataa in Lao historical documents from 1353 to 2023. It involves studying and analyzing historical documents, contemporary or primary, secondary, and related. The research found that the story of Prawo and Prataa in Lao historical documents is categorized into four historical periods across both sides of the Mekong River. During the Lan Xang Kingdom era (1353-1893), Prawo and Prataa were considered warriors and heroes. In the colonial period, (1893-1953), they were labeled as ungrateful individuals. During the Kingdom of Laos period (1953-1975), the western or the right bank of the Mekong River or northeastern Thailand continued the story of Prawo and Prataa, portraying them as warriors and heroes. During the Lao People’s Democratic Republic period (December 2, 1975 to the present), the people of Ubon Ratchathani in the western region of the Mekong River defended their ancestors Prawo and Prataa, arguing that they were not ungrateful individuals. Laos has developed the story of Prawo and Prataa as part of its national history, describing their breakaway as “the most severe rebellion in the history of Lanxang.