Western Culture and Thailand

August 14th, 2007

Western culture has been seen in Thailand for centuries. Thailand is a free enough country compared to other Southeast Asian countries that Thai People are able to travel abroad, study abroad and bring Western culture back to Thailand. Unlike many other neighboring countries, Thailand also welcome visitors, merchants, ex-pats, and new settlers who bring western culture and foreign influences to Thailand. Thailand’s motto seems to be anything good goes, providing that it:

does not offend the King of Thailand
does not offend the country

As the only country in its region which was never conquered by Western countries, Thai People are very proud of their heritage, especially the King of Thailand whom 99.9% of Thai People hold dear above anything, above religion, politics, and the country itself. Thailand, like many other countries worldwide nowadays, has adopted western culture into its own culture while still maintaining strong Thai Culture.

Western Culture influence on freedom of speech in Thailand

Thailand is somewhat a country of free speech. You can technically say anything you like publicly, as long as it does not offend the King of Thailand or the country itself. If you say something bad about the government, technically it’s ok but no one does in fear of starting a fight. If you offend the national religion, Buddhism, no one probably would say anything.

Western culture influence on clothes in Thailand

Thailand was very fast to adopt western culture influence on clothes. Traditional Thai clothes are hard to wear and not practical. Nowadays, especially in Bangkok and the civilized parts of Thailand, you will see Thai People only in western style clothes such as shorts, skirts, pants, and T-shirts. However, since Thailand is a conservative country, in the upper class societies of Thailand, Westernized traditional Thai costumes are still worn. Nowadays, traditional Thai costumes have incorporated elements of Western clothes in them to make them more practical and comfortable to wear.

Western culture influence on technology in Thailand

Since Thailand is an anything goes country and is not strong in technology itself, Thailand is influenced by every technological advanced countries. If there is a technology somewhere in the world, it’s likely that you will also find it sold in Thailand. The technology in Thailand is influenced or borrowed from western cultures as well as Japan and other countries.

Thailand is a unique country in that it is always trying to improve itself and to get better goods and products into Thailand. If a culture is deemed good and beneficial and does not offend the King or the country, then it is likely to influence Thailand and its people.

Thailand Culture