Abstract:
The purpose of this dissertation is to study and evaluate the effectiveness of Thailands policy of economic development during the premiership of Field Marshal P. Pibulsonggram (1938 1944). Since this policy is the first of its kind after the 1932 Revolution, which put an end to absolute monarchy, its process has not only laid [guidelines] and foundation for succeeding Thailands economic programmes but also had to be reaponsible for the economic problems which the later government has to face. The results of this study reveal that Pibulsonggrams economic policy which is an attempt to incorporate nationalisms into the nations economic developing programme, is dependent upon himself as the sole decision maker and people are merely supposed to put it into practice. Besides military dictatorship there are other factors which led to the ineffectiveness of this policy. One is the impact of World War II, which resulted in nationwide economic depression. Besides, drastic measures put forward to enforce the policy during wartime failed to draw active mass participation and even led to national disunity, civil disobedience and protests. Furthermore, government officials who formed the core of state mechanism performed very poorly in implementing the policy. The outcome of this policy could not therefore attain its real target and the majority of the Thai people had still been deprived of their economic rights at all levels of the nations economy. On the other hand, the upper class, namely, high ranking government officials, politicians and certain groups of businessmen still maintained their economic privileges, and therefore, had gained large benefits from this policy. Although it is almost impossible for developing countries like Thailand to effectively develop its present economy, if its previous governments failed to find appropriate solutions to those deep-rooted problems, the researcher, therefore, hopes that this research would give the readers some understanding to the nations conflicting economic problems, their causes and effects, so as to lend us experiences in dealing with prospective economic problems as part of the nations economic developing programme. This dissertation is consisted of seven chapters. The objectives, scope, research methodology and contributions of this dissertation are included in the introduction. Chapter I deals with the general background of the Thai political, economic and social structures and history of the Thai economic development before the 1932 Revolution up to 1938 when Phibulsonggram came to power as the Prime Minister. Chapter II is an analysis of Thailands economy which was dominated by foreigners. Then it goes on the discuss the role played by foreign capitalists, how Pibulsonggram came to power, how this nationalistic economic development policy was formed, and lastly how it was implemented. Chapter III deals with the then situation of private enterprises and foreign trade. Pibulsonggrams policy to develop Thailands trade, and measures to enfore the said policy. Chapter IV explains Pibolsonggrams policy toward agriculture, problems hindering agricultural process and the attempts of government to solve them. Among the attempts were the initiation of an agricultural promotion policy, the provision of measures to enforce the said policy, using state mechanism in facilitation agricultural activities and largely introducing co-operative movements. Chapter V gives a general background for Thailands industry before Pibulsonggrams period, various ways and means to carry out Pibulsonggrams industrial development programme. The promotion programmes to develop domestic and large scale industries. It also discusses obstacles to the progress of these types of industry. Chapter VI deals with a general background of Thailands economy and its trends during the period prior to Thailands alliance with Japan in World War II, economic chaos resulting from this alliance, and the effects of this worsening economic situation upon the whole economic developmental process. It also discusses Pibulsonggrams [implementation] of the plan to solve the financial problems, it obstacles, and reactions of the government to this failure, Chapter VII, which is the final chapter, gives an overall evaluation of Pibulsonggrams policy of economic development and its effectiveness and also illustrates its main obstacles and its major weak points which led to its failure.