How long do you guys reckon until thais get tired of the neo colonialism that goes on in their country?

[AlexBrown84]

Srs

 

[DeathWish188]

1. Economic Influence​

• Foreign investment & corporations – Thailand relies heavily on outside capital, especially from Japan, China, the EU, and the U.S. Critics say this gives those countries outsized sway over Thai policies and development priorities.
• Tourism industry – A big chunk of the economy caters to Western and Chinese tourists, which can feel like dependency.
• Trade agreements & debt – Some argue that Thailand’s trade deals or development loans put it in a subordinate position to wealthier countries.

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2. Military & Political Ties​

• U.S. military presence – Thailand has long been a U.S. ally in Southeast Asia, hosting joint exercises and bases. Some see this as “security dependence.”
• China’s growing role – In recent years, Chinese investment in infrastructure (rail, ports, energy) has raised fears of creeping influence, similar to what’s happening in Laos or Cambodia.
• Coups & elites – Thai politics are often shaped by elites who have close ties to outside powers, whether Western governments or big foreign investors.

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3. Cultural & Social Influence​

• Westernization – English dominance, Hollywood/media influence, and consumer brands can feel like cultural intrusion.
• Tourism-driven social change – Areas like Bangkok or Phuket are sometimes criticized for catering more to foreign lifestyles than local ones.
• Education & NGOs – Western models in education, development aid, and human rights activism can be framed as external interference.

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4. Why It Resonates as “Neo-Colonialism”​

• Thailand was never formally colonized (unlike its neighbors). That makes critiques of “neo-colonialism” especially sharp, since the sense is: “We avoided direct colonization, but now outsiders still dominate us through money, military, and culture.”
• It’s less about literal colonial rule and more about dependency and imbalance.

 

[AlexBrown84]

1. Economic Influence​

• Foreign investment & corporations – Thailand relies heavily on outside capital, especially from Japan, China, the EU, and the U.S. Critics say this gives those countries outsized sway over Thai policies and development priorities.
• Tourism industry – A big chunk of the economy caters to Western and Chinese tourists, which can feel like dependency.
• Trade agreements & debt – Some argue that Thailand’s trade deals or development loans put it in a subordinate position to wealthier countries.

---

2. Military & Political Ties​

• U.S. military presence – Thailand has long been a U.S. ally in Southeast Asia, hosting joint exercises and bases. Some see this as “security dependence.”
• China’s growing role – In recent years, Chinese investment in infrastructure (rail, ports, energy) has raised fears of creeping influence, similar to what’s happening in Laos or Cambodia.
• Coups & elites – Thai politics are often shaped by elites who have close ties to outside powers, whether Western governments or big foreign investors.

---

3. Cultural & Social Influence​

• Westernization – English dominance, Hollywood/media influence, and consumer brands can feel like cultural intrusion.
• Tourism-driven social change – Areas like Bangkok or Phuket are sometimes criticized for catering more to foreign lifestyles than local ones.
• Education & NGOs – Western models in education, development aid, and human rights activism can be framed as external interference.

---

4. Why It Resonates as “Neo-Colonialism”​

• Thailand was never formally colonized (unlike its neighbors). That makes critiques of “neo-colonialism” especially sharp, since the sense is: “We avoided direct colonization, but now outsiders still dominate us through money, military, and culture.”
• It’s less about literal colonial rule and more about dependency and imbalance.

can’t be arsed to read gpt slop

 

[14passport]

Srs

What's the alternative?

-dictatorship by the military
-corrupt monarchy fucking up the country
-a few billonaires own and decide almost everything
-one of the lowest fertility levels in the world

you kick all the sexpats and there's literally massive cities/towns like Pattaya that would go to 0
entire neighborhoods in Bangkok that would become empty

but yeah middle and high class thais have been tired of the losers moving there for a long time
everyone else is kinda ok from it because they benefit from it

imagine having a family and crossing the old sexpat with 3 ladyboys on the elevator lmao

 

[Marco Pumpo]

Srs

good question.

i think even if they get tired of it, it will continue because they benefit from it. unlike most other countries, thais have protected their properties and the vast majority of their jobs.

imagine if foreigners could just pick up any job and buy houses. the country would probably already be flooded with foreign blue and white collar brokies while many thais would become jobless and start revolting big time. also foreigners would have bought all the nice properties in bangkok, chiang mai and the islands.