A kingdom “one and indivisible”

The Kingdom of Thailand – known as Siam until 1939 – is a geographically and culturally diverse country that, until the late nineteenth century, was only very loosely politically integrated, with the Bangkok court exerting only limited authority over vassals and tributaries. Today, cultural diversity is celebrated as an asset for tourism, while regional socioeconomic disparities, reflected in electoral outcomes, are a source of concern even for conservative forces. Yet, Thailand is a unitary and highly centralized state, with provincial governors appointed directly by the Ministry of the Interior. Since 1932, all of the kingdom’s constitutions have enshrined the principle of the kingdom being “one and indivisible.” This political structure is rooted in late nineteenth-century state consolidation, which was reinforced during the Cold War. Repeated attempts at decentralization, aimed at enhancing local accountability and government efficiency, have been blocked by entrenched bureaucratic and military elites. Central to their resistance are not only tangible interests but also a worldview rooted in Theravāda Buddhism, which is convinced of Bangkok’s political and moral superiority, casting provincial populations as unfit for self-rule. This chapter examines the historical and political origins of Thailand’s persistent centralization, tracing it as well as its challengers from the nineteenth century to the present.