A Special Relationship : The United States and Military Government in Thailand, 1947-1958

The development of the Thai-American alliance from 1947 to 1958 dramatically transformed both countries' involvement in Southeast Asia. Bounded by two important political events in Thailand, an army coup in 1947 and the military's assumption of complete control of government in 1958, the period witnessed both the entrenchment of authoritarian military government in Thailand and a revolution in U.S.-Thai relations. During these years the modern Thai political system emerged, and the United States established its interest and influence in mainland Southeast Asian affairs. The developments of the period made possible American's later, more extensive, involvement in Indochina. A Special Relationship provides the most comprehensive analysis of this critical founding period of the Thai-American alliance. It reveals surprising new information on joint covert operations in Indochina, American support for suppression of government opponents, and CIA involvement in Thai domestic politics. The Development Of The Thai-american Alliance From 1947 To 1958 Dramatically Transformed Both Countries' Involvement In Southeast Asia. Bounded By Two Important Political Events In Thailand, An Army Coup In 1947 And The Military's Assumption Of Complete Control Of Government In 1958, The Period Witnessed Both The Entrenchment Of Authoritarian Military Government In Thailand And A Revolution In U.s.-thai Relations. A Special Relationship Provides The Most Comprehensive Analysis Of This Critical Founding Period Of The Thai-american Alliance. It Reveals Surprising New Information On Joint Covert Operations In Indochina, American Support For Suppression Of Government Opponents, And Cia Involvement In Thai Domestic Politics. Daniel Fineman's Examination Of Newly Released Thai And American Official Documents And His Interviews With Former Intelligence Officers, Generals, Diplomats, And Politicians From Thailand And The United States Bring To Life The People And Events That Led America To Its Tragic Entanglement In Southeast Asia And Contributed To Thailand's Descent Into Harsh Military Rule. A Special Relationship Will Be Of Intense Interest To Students And Scholars Of Modern Southeast Asian History And American Diplomacy. Nonspecialists Will Find It An Absorbing Look At A Formative Period In American Diplomatic History. Pt. 1. Learning To Live With Phibun, 1947-1948. Ch. 1. Prelude To The Coup, January 1947-november 1947. Ch. 2. Khuang And The Coup, November 1947-april 1948. Ch. 3. Phibun's Return, April-june 1948 -- Pt. 2. U.s. Military Aid And The Transformation Of Thai Foreign Policy, 1948-1950. Ch. 4. Making The Case For Military Aid, April 1948-june 1949. Ch. 5. U.s. Military Aid And Thailand's Commitment To The West, June 1949-december 1950 -- Pt. 3. Forming The Alliance, 1950-1954. Ch. 6. The Establishment Of An American Military Presence, June 1950-december 1951. Ch. 7. The United States And The Military's Consolidation Of Power, June 1951-december 1952. Ch. 8. Building The Bastion, January 1953-september 1954. Daniel Fineman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.