Title: Thailand's official development assistance: an analysis of development diplomacy
Author: Monrada Yamkasikorn
Year: 2025
Keywords: Development diplomacy, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Official Development Assistance
Themes: Post-development,Civil society and Democracy
Advisor(s): Kasira Cheeppensook
The full thesis available here.
Abstract: This study examines Thailand’s transition from an aid recipient to an emerging donor and analyzes the evolution and limitations of its Official Development Assistance (ODA). It seeks to explain how Thailand has repositioned itself within the global development architecture and the implications of this shift for regional development dynamics. Drawing on political economy of aid, this study argues that Thailand’s donor transformation reflects a gradual and context-driven process shaped by both domestic developments and evolving regional norms, rather than a purely linear outcome of economic growth. The formal articulation of donor status, particularly during the administration of Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, the-then Prime Minister, can be understood as part of a broader effort to align Thailand with emerging practices of South–South cooperation. Nevertheless, the transition continues to face limitations, particularly in terms of strategic coherence, policy direction, and the ability to generate sustained and strategic development cooperation. The findings indicate that while Thailand’s ODA contributes to her role on active development diplomacy and addressing regional cooperation norms, it remains constrained by fragmented institutional coordination, effective evaluation mechanism, and resource limitations. A predominantly state-centric and top-down approach, combined with an emphasis on soft power objectives, may further limit local ownership and responsiveness to recipient needs. Moreover, Thailand’s aid practices may reproduce patterns of interdependence, even in the absence of deliberate intent. The study concludes that Thailand occupies an intermediate position in global development governance, where development assistance simultaneously reflects cooperation and strategic influence expansion.