Conclusion

Summary

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of PAD's uncivil action about the Preah Vihear temple. Apart from the immediate effects such as the deterioration of diplomatic relations and the deaths and damage incurred in border clashes, the nationalist campaign had longer-term repercussions which can only be properly understood within the context of Thailand's post-Cold War policy toward its neighbours in general and Cambodia in particular.

In Chapter II, I have shown that the ending of the Cold War and of the war in Cambodia in the late 1980s opened up great opportunities for a new era of economic development and cooperation in Southeast Asia. Former foes became allies and partners in both political and economic cooperation. Various cross-border schemes were launched to promote growth, spread prosperity, and build friendship among the region's states in order to compete with growing regionalism in other parts of the world. Since the government of Chatichai Choonhavan (1988–91), Thailand has positioned herself as a leader and centre of economic cooperation in the region. In the eyes of Thai policy-makers, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam were no longer enemies, but potential partners in many schemes of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Cambodia became an increasingly important country for Thai exports and investment. Both countries benefited from growing trans-border economic activities. Relations between the countries reflected this growing interdependence. In other words, policies promoted by various state agencies reshaped the fundamental fact of the relationship between Thailand and Cambodia from enmity to economic interdependence. Thailand could no longer employ economic measure, such as border closure, to punish its neighbour as it had done during the Cold War. Even when the diplomatic relationship between the governments of Abhisit and Hun Sen slid downhill and several bloody border clashes took place, both sides were careful not to let trans-border business be disrupted. Although Abhisit announced he would suspend financial aid to Cambodia and revoke the maritime MOU, he quietly failed to act on his promise since Thailand would suffer in the long term.