Beyond bamboo diplomacy

Abstract

The discussion of Thai foreign policy behaviours is conventionally predicated on the notion of “flexible foreign policy”, often dubbed “bamboo diplomacy”. This foreign policy paradigm, which suggests that Thailand consistently bends towards any prevailing sides, has dominated a study of Thai foreign affairs for years. Instead of reinforcing the pre-eminence of such a law-like framework, this chapter contends that the factor of status anxiety, which is an emerging and rising approach in international relations, could be employed to interpret Thailand’s foreign policy behaviours from a different angle. It asserts that Thailand, a small or middle-sized nation, is concerned about its international status and would engage in status-seeking behaviour at the expense of rational calculus. To substantiate the claim, this chapter travels back in time to show how the elites during the 19th century were concerned about Siam’s international standing and recognition from the Western powers. The chapter then turns to the case of Field Marshal Phibun Songkram to demonstrate how the premier’s infamous nationalist aspirations stemmed from the ruling cliques’ sense of status insecurity. The conclusion probes a contemporary case of Thailand’s grand purchase of the Chinese submarines and argues that such a project was driven by the prestige-seeking motive.