"In this up-to-date study of Thai foreign policy, Benjamin Zawacki provides a compelling account of Thailand's modern history and its changing role in the world order, from the beginning of its alliance with the United States in 1945 to the 2014 coup and beyond. Featuring extensive interviews with more than seventy high-level figures in Thailand and the United States, including deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the book offers unprecedented insight into the inner workings of the Thai elite and their dealings with the United States and China. As the Sino-American rivalry escalates, Southeast Asia will become an increasingly important theater in global affairs. Understanding the current transitions of power in Thailand are essential for comprehending the profound implications of China's influence, not only for the region, but for the wider world."--Publisher description.

Introduction : Points of departure -- Part I. The fog of peace (1945-1949) -- Means of power (1949-1957) -- War comes to Thailand (1957-1973) -- Experiments interrupted (1973-1980) -- Policy drift (1980-1988) -- The Thai Spring (1989-2001) -- Interface -- Part II. A Thaksin for Turning (Thailand and China, 2001-2006) -- Another American War (Thailand and the US, 2001-2006) -- China's Pivot (2006-2014) -- Continental Drift.