Abstract:
The studies of Thailands engagement in the Second World War has been a widely popular research topic from the late-1940s to the present day. Previous research conventionally establish the period of studies between 1939 and 1945 (the Second World War in Europe) or between 1941 and 1945 (the Great East Asia War). Such a timeframe, on the one hand, suggests that the war started in Europe and later spread to other parts of the world. On the other hand, there is the convensional explanation that Japan, which had become dominated by militarism and ultra-nationalism caused the war in Asia, and Thailand entered the war according to the directives of Field Marshal Phibunsongkhram whose dictatorial regime ruled the kingdom both before and during the Second World War.This dissertation presents a revisionist history by expanding the research timeframe to 1937-1947, to include global political contexts, dynamics of foreign relations with states within the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, as well as domestic politics that influence policy and decision making of political figures in leading the nation into war. This expanded viewpoint allows for a more profound understanding of the rootcauses and consequences of the war that is more comprehensive than simply studying the war as battles between military forces. Analysis of primary materials and contemporary publications opens a new horizon of understanding the history of Thailands engagement in the Second World War.From the revisionist perspective, Thailands entrance into the Second World War was highly methodicalfrom the first awareness of war to making predictions and preparations to safeguard national independence in the case of war, studying war circumstances abroad as well as consequences that could befall Thailand once it entered the war. These preparational processes took place even before the war broke out in Europe and before Phibunsongkhram became the Prime Minister. This research also found that the desire for economic and political influence of great powersUnited Kingdom, United States of America, and Franceall of whom sought to protect their interest in this region was another important factor that exacerbated the conflict that eventually resulted in the outbreak of the Second World War in the Asia-Pacific.