Thailand’s Geopolitical Power and Shaping of its Foreign Policy during the Third Indochina War
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Abstract
Geopolitics has become an important part of the study of international relations. Within that field of study is the concept of geopolitical power and the Rimland theory. This study utilizes the two forms of geopolitical power, land-power and sea-power, and the Rimland theory in analyzing how geopolitics affects foreign policy through the examination of Thailand’s foreign policy actions during the Third Indochina War to determine what Thailand’s geopolitical power was/is and to determine the connection between foreign policy and geopolitical power. This study utilized a secondary source, supported by semi-structured interviews with diplomatic officials with experience in foreign policy, to lend insight into the foreign policy actions. The study affirms that there is a connection between foreign policy and geopolitics, both negative and positive, in the construction of the national power required to conduct wider foreign policy choices. The study concluded that Thailand leaned towards being a sea-power, but could not be categorized as one, highlighting the need for a hybrid geopolitical power categorization. The implications of such are a more accurate categorization of insular countries within the Rimland theory, and supporting the explanation of the power potential and importance of these countries in geopolitics.
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