Background



The Kingdom of Thailand (called Siam until 1939) is the only country in Southeast Asia never colonized by a European country. The British ruled Burma and Malaysia, the Dutch ruled Indonesia, and both Spain and the U.S. ruled in the Philippines, but through a series of maneuvers befitting a chess grandmaster, the kings of Thailand maintained dominion of their nation.

Thailand has maintained its independence throughout a long and storied history. A bloodless coup in 1932 converted the nation from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. During World War II, Thailand sided with the Japanese. (Thailand is home to the real “Bridge on the River Kwai.”) However, at the conclusion of the Second World War, Thailand befriended the U.S.

Today's Thailand represents a continuous society with an archeological record dating back well over 5,000 years. Renowned for its amazing natural beauty (orchids grow lushly wild in the countryside), fabulous ancient temples, flawless palm-fringed white sand beaches, and unfailing hospitality (Thailand isn’t known as the “Land of a Thousand Smiles” for nothing!), Thailand is home to more than 62 million people.


Thailand draws more tourists each year than any other Southeast Asian country. Unfortunately, despite the booming tourism trade, many people in Thailand are desperately poor. For this reason, some families are simply unable to care for their children and abandon them at orphanages in hopes that their children will someday have a better life with an adoptive family. In 2004, Americans adopted 69 children from Thailand. Some of the children available for adoption from Thailand are in foster care, while others live in orphanages.

Credits: The International Adoption Guidebook, © Mary M. Strickert