Bases, bars, and blue jeans: Thailand and cultural debates over the Vietnam War

Abstract

ABSTRACT As a hub of U.S. air operations in the Vietnam War, Thailand hosted a large number of U.S. military personnel, which brought Thais into an unprecedented level of contact with foreigners who altered Thai social life. The cultural impact of a transformed nightlife, relationships between Thai women and American servicemen, and concerns over the future of mixed-race children were at the forefront of cultural debates regarding the American presence in Thailand. The debates centered on the nightlife that brought Thailand notoriety, along with Thai attitudes toward gender and race during a time when the country was a major R&R destination for American servicemen. Anti-American sentiments were expressed initially in terms of these cultural debates, which seemed relatively nonadversarial to the government and yet served the purpose of criticizing the Thai-U.S. alliance during the war. At the same time, American music, movies, fashion, and other “made in U.S.A.” products were imported into Thailand and became popular. Thais might disagree with American foreign policy and criticize the social impact of the American presence, but they did not mind consuming the American popular culture imported into the country.