Why Thailand is unique in Southeast Asia?

Colonization is the process which a central power dominates the surrounding land or other

countries and its people and components. European colonization in Southeast Asia began around the

16th century when western influence stared to get in to the area. Portugal was the first European

power to establish a bridgehead in Southeast Asia with the conquest of the Sultanate of Malacca in

1511. The Netherlands and Spain followed the Portugal as the main European powers in the region.

The Portuguese arrived in Malacca, Maluku, and Timor, while the Spanish conquest Manila which

later expanded into a larger territory of Spanish East Indies. During that time, the British also

established themselves in Myanmar, the Dutch and the French were also control many countries in

Southeast Asia as well as the Portuguese and the Spanish. By the turn of the century, all Southeast

Asian nations were colonized except Thailand. Of all countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand was the

only country to avoid being colonized by a European power and that helps lead to the uniquely

preserved cultural heritage of Thailand.

Thailand was never colonized by any country in the world. At first, Thai established there

own states and these states fought each other and were under constant threat from the Khmers and

Burma. Later, European colonial powers threatened in the 19th and early 20th centuries but

Thailand survived as the only Southeast Asian states to avoid European colonial rule. And unlike

the other countries that have been colonized by the European power, Thai unique culture and

tradition were preserved and never be weakened by other cultures. Thailand has monarchy since the

past and thats something that never change. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica webiste, after

being Myanmar being colonized, the British decided to eliminate the monarchy and sent Thibaw

into exile. The British also detach the government from religious affairs and depriving the monk or

the sangha. Moreover, the British eliminated the office of the patriarch of the Buddhist clergy.
Thailand has many different unique cultures that was preserved such as cuisine, dress, or language.

In comparison, British colonial rule have influenced aspects on Myanmar culture, including

language and education. As a natural consequence of British rule in Myanmar, English has been

another major source of vocabulary, especially with regard technology, measurements and modern

institutions.

At that time, Thailand was caught between the two superpowers of the time and avoid

colonialism by negotiating with England and France to keep them from attacking. European

expansion began during that time, with Britain consolidating its hold on many kingdoms such as

India and Myanmar. The French were coming from the East solidified their hold on Vietnam and

were moving westwards from there. Then Thailand, also known as Siam, was caught in the middle

between these two greats power. France and England had been fighting for many years but when

they approached Thailand, they had different strategies. England believed in the concept of buffer

state which is when a neutral territory was created in order to keep two countries from directly

contact with each other. At that time, king Rama IV turned to the British for support and Britain

become Thailands strongest ally. By 1890, the French tried to take over Thailand from the East and

because of that king Rama V was forced to give some territory to the French. When the British and

the French foreign ministers met in Paris, in 1896, the French proposed to divide Thailand into two

parts but the British had not agree because they wanted to continue with the buffer states. Thailand

had send an ambassador to Europe to negotiate with the British directly by telling them that the

entire country of Thailand should continue to be a buffer state. The British agreed to this and then in

1896, the two countries agreed to sign a treaty saying that they will support Land. This was a major

diplomatic triumph for Thailand.

Comparing this to Myanmar, according to Facts and Details website, they were ruled by the

British from 1824 to 1948. Before the British conquest Myanmar, because of its location, with trade

route between China and India passing through the country, Myanmar was kept wealthy through
constant trade. But the conflict began between Myanmar and Britain when the Konbaung Dynasty

decided to expand into Arakan which is close to the British possessions in India. This close contact

led to the first war, which is Anglo-Burmese War. The British won this war and two more wars with

Myanmar. After three Anglo-Burma Wars, Burma was conquered and transformed onto a British

colony. After that, in 1885, after three wars gaining various parts of Myanmar, the British finally

gained all the area of Myanmar and making the territory a Province of British India. Burma became

an official colony on January 1, 1886. Burma was immediately as a province of British India and

the British began to permeate the ancient Burmese culture with foreign elements. Burmese tradition

were ofter weakened by the imposition of British traditions. The British ruled Burma as a part of

India from 1919 until 1937. In 1937, Burma was made a crown colony of Britain and Britain used

Burma as a buffer zone between India and the rest of Asia.

Colonial rule had a profound effect on Southeast Asia. While the colonial powers get a lot

profit from the regions resource and market in the country that they control, colonial rule also

develop the region to a varying extent. Agriculture, mining, and economy developed rapidly during

this period of time. The introduction Christianity that was bought by the colonist also have profound

effect in the societal change. Even though colonization have an advantage and disadvantage for the

country that have been controlled, Thailand is not inferior to any country in Southeast Asia.

Thailand is unique in Southeast Asia because its never been colonized by any country. In Southeast

Asia, Thailand is the only country that never be colonized by the European and that how Thailand

preserved its culture and heritage.

Reference
Why Thailand was never colonized. (March, 2014). Retrieved from https://www.stickmanbang

kok.com/readers-submissions/2014/03/why-thailand-was-never-colonized/

Hays, J. (May, 2014). British rule of Burma. Retrieved from http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-

asia/Myanmar/sub5_5a/entry-3007.html

Myint-U, T. (May, 2008). The shared history of Britain and Burma. Retrieved from http://

www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/3558192/The-shared-history-of-Britain-and-Burma.html

Myanmar. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://global.britannica.com/place/Myanmar/The-initial-impact-

of-colonialism