Alone in Southeast Asia, post-World War II Thailand avoided revolution or civil war.
The dissertation’s other main objective is to examine the longer-term impact of occupation. One main aim of my dissertation is to analyse the costs to Thailand of Japanese occupation. Resulting shortages of consumer goods, swift money supply expansion and high inflation cut living standards, necessitated rationing and led to social unrest. Japanese finance required that Thailand pay the costs of occupation and ship goods, mostly rice, to Japan while receiving little in return. Despite this capitulation, Japanese occupation brought substantial economic loss and widespread social disruption. Small and with little choice, Thailand quickly joined the Axis. Japan coordinated its invasion of Thailand to coincide with the 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour.