ความสัมพันธ์ลาว-ไทย : ศึกษาพัฒนาการนโยบายของลาวจากปี ค.ศ. 1975 ถึง 2001 / ชินวัฒน์ แม้นเดช = Lao-Thai relations : a study on Lao's policy development from 1975 to 2001 / Chinnawat Mandech
This thesis studied factors affecting policy making process in the normalizatrion of the Lao-Thai relations after the Ban-Rom-Klao crisis in 1988. This normalization had altered the characteristics of their relationship from conflicts and confrontation to cooperation and friendship up to the present time (2001). This thesis used the concept on "action, reaction, and interactions" of R.Snyder, H.E.Bruck, and B.Sapin. The study found that the "New Thinking" concept proposed by the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party at its fifth meeting of the Fourth Congress during the years 1987-1988 had become the major factor in influencing decision of the Lao leader, Kaysone Phomvihane, to stop the crisis and normalize the relations with Thailand by negotiating with Thai military leaders. At the same time, the Lao leader had also altered the principle of foreign policy making and implementation toward countries of the free world by adhering to peace, friendship, and omni-directional cooperation of the benefit of each country in its short and long-term interests; adhering to the non-aligned principle; and building of security for this region. This new policy had allowed the Lao PDR to cooperate widely with countries of the free world, especially with Thailand. Therefore, during the years 1988 to 2001, Lao-Thai relations were imbued with compromise and cordiality throughout. Furthermore, it is also found that Chatchai Choonhawan's policy relating to the transformation of battlefields into trade transaction in 1989 responded well to the new Lao's policy. The results were that, positive interactions between Lao PDR and Thailand occurred and led to cooperation and renewed friendship. However, the studies had further found out that the relationship was still imbued with suspicion on the Lao's side toward Thailand, and that it was quite ready to confront Thailand once more. Therefore, if Thailand connot remove the suspicion, Lao-Thai relations will remain quite fragile.
