Abstract
Thai-Cambodian bilateral tensions in 2003 were not an accurate reflection of Thailand’s recent foreign policy initiatives. Thailand has embarked on its most aggressive foreign policy moves thus far to seek regional peace and stability, partly driven by domestic political consolidation and a reformist/populist agenda under Thaksin Shinawatra and his Thai Rak Thai party. This article first examines Thai politics and foreign policy from the Chatichai Choonhavan government’s Indochina Initiative onwards, then focuses on the Thaksin government’s domestic and foreign policies since 2001 and the implications for Thailand and the region. It is argued that the ongoing initiatives of the Thaksin government have significant implications for domestic politics while foreign policy initiatives are to be understood within the Thai tradition of performing a regional leadership role.