Thailand: Fighting the SuperpowerUnderstanding the greater global chessboard Thailands political crisis is unfolding upon. The history of Thailand over the past several centuries could be defined by its fending off one European empire after the next. It is the only Southeast Asian nation that has never been colonized by a European power. This is in direct contrast to its neighbors on all sides Myanmar and Malaysia were under the British; and Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam were under the French. Even China was carved up by Western powers. The key to Thailands success was committing to a careful balancing act between projecting strength, adept geopolitical maneuvering, unwavering unity, and when necessary, making temporary concessions to preserve its greater sovereignty. Empires Still Exist, Still Conquer, Still Exploit Thailand in the 1800s, then the Kingdom of Siam, was surrounded on all sides by colonized nations. Gunboats would eventually turn up off the coast of Siams capital and the Kingdom made to concede to the British 1855 Bowring Treaty. See how many of these gunboat policy imposed concessions sound like todays free trade economic liberalization: We need only consider the outright military conquest of Iraq and Americas Paul Bremers (CFR) economic reformation of the decimated state. The Economist gleefully enumerated the neo-colonial economic liberalization of Iraq in a piece titled Lets all go to the yard sale: If it all works out, Iraq will be a capitalists dream: Iraq is a perfect modern-day example of a nation overrun by brute force and made to concede to an entire restructuring of its economy, giving foreign powers access to their natural resources, markets, and population. It was absolute subjugation, both militarily and economically. It was modern-day conquest. If the US has done this to Iraq as recently as 2003, why would anyone think any other nation today is safe from a similar fate? And if not by the US today, perhaps another potential superpower like China tomorrow? Already, the same familiar lies can be heard from the US in the lead-up to war with nations like Syria and Iran. Indeed, imperialism is alive and well and nations that choose to ignore this ancient but still thriving menace to world peace, almost guarantee that they will be next. The Thai Establishment Knows Imperialism The Thai establishment is not naive. They know the history of the world is not divided into neat little chapters with the institutions and motives that drove European colonization safely concluded stories behind us in the past. The institutions and motivations that drove European colonization in centuries past have only evolved. The Europeans, along with the United States, have become the new empire or superpower, seeking extraterritorial opportunities with implied threats and installed proxy regimes when possible, and with overt force when necessary. Thailands strategy has remained relatively the same to remain neutral and fluid, to bend and bounce back when superpowers blow through. With Thailands unique and enduring indigenous institutions intact, it can protect the nations sovereignty even at times it must make small concessions to keep the superpowers at bay. However, with Thaksin Shinawatra, the superpowers have attempted to disfigure Thailand permanently disabling its ability to resist, and erasing the institutions that have for centuries kept Thailand Thai. What the Thai establishment said, during the rise of Thaksin Shinawatra, reveals the insight they have on the superpowers and what is necessary to protect against them. Though seemingly condemning Thailands Democrat Party for being too protective the Sarasonteh blog reported on two revealing incidents. The first was in 2005 in describing a meeting between former US Ambassador to Thailand Ralph Boyce and former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai. Sarasonteh reported: According to the Democrat Party website, US Ambassador Ralph Boyce met with former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai today. Theres no word on the substance of what a Democrat MP calls a chat between old friends, but if I were Mr. Boyce, Id have courteously requested an explanation for this: This first example lays out the principles of neutrality and the maintenance of sovereignty in regards to barring foreign powers from using Thailand for strategic purposes. Of course, under Thaksin Shinawatra, neither of these principles would be observed as Thaksin sent troops to aid in the US occupation of Iraq, and allowed the CIA to conduct its atrocious rendition program on Thai soil. The next example involves economic liberalization, and the Democrats reaction to laws Thaksin Shinawatra literally changed one week, to personally profit from the next, at the cost of selling Thai infrastructure to foreign investors. In a blog entry titled Worse than Saddam, Sarasonteh reported: Indeed, it is recognized that there is a struggle between independent sovereign states and the superpower, and that selling your nations infrastructure out to it is detrimental to ones sovereignty. The blog is clearly maintained by someone who believes deeply in the concept of globalization at the expense of national sovereignty, someone perhaps not as well studied in history as Thailands establishment to see how much globalization resembles old world imperialism. The same blog would also condemn Democrat Party members for suspecting the CIAs involvement in terrorism plaguing the deep south violence that had seen an enduring peace until Thaksin Shinawatra came into power. (more on the USs backing of Al Qaeda) Uprooting Thaksin is not the End The extensive foreign ties Thaksin Shinawatra had before coming into office, while in office, and to this very day have been examined and reported on in detail. His attempts to illegally pass unpopular free trade deals, privatize and sell off the nations oil, its telecommunications infrastructure, and contribute to the Wests unwarranted military aggression are among the many reasons he must be removed from power. However, the empty spot he leaves, if not filled with something cultivated for and by Thais, will only serve as a growing bed for other invasive weeds like the Thaksin regime. While it is wise for the Thai establishment to continue seeking neutrality and guarded tolerance of the superpowers intrusions, it may be useful for the Thai people in general to understand the true dimensions of the threat the Kingdom faces today. A nation needs not be xenophobic to guard against foreign intrusion; but rather, well informed on identifying the differences between mutual benefits and exploitation. Iraq is the ultimate example of what can happen to a nation unable to balance, bend, and bounce back against aggressive foreign interests. Thailand, on the other hand, illustrates no matter how well you play the game of keeping foreign aggressors outside the gates, the greatest danger remains those within who would willfully undermine your defenses and let the enemy in. It was Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BC 43 BC) in the timeless The Traitor is the Plague who said: How can Thailand prevent another Thaksin from simply taking his place? How can Thais be sure their nation is simply playing the game in the best interests of the Kingdom, and not instead selling the nation out? For the average Thai, the only answer is to begin building enduring, independent, and strong local institutionsthat reduce the Kingdoms dependency on foreign trade. Additionally, Thais must educate themselves on the true nature ofthe corporate-financier interests that currently constitute the superpowers. Understanding this and the networks theyve created that reach from their financial capitals of Wall Street and London, and into our very backyards, allows us to expose them and displace them with institutions, organizations, and economic activities that are truly in our best interests. Tony Cartaluccis articles have appeared on many alternative media websites, including his own at Land Destroyer Report, Alternative Thai News Network and LocalOrg. Read other contributed articles by Tony Cartalucci here. 