The Thai Revolution of 1932

On June 24, 1932, a group of military officers and Paris-educated intellectuals calling themselves the Khana Ratsadon (People's Party) staged a bloodless coup against King Prajadhipok (Rama VII), ending 150 years of absolute Chakri monarchy. The revolution, led by army officer Plaek Phibunsongkhram and legal scholar Pridi Banomyong, established a constitutional monarchy with an elected assembly. King Prajadhipok initially accepted the new arrangement but abdicated in 1935 after disputes with the new government. The 1932 revolution created the template for Thai politics that persists to this day: a constitutional monarchy where real power is contested between the military, elected politicians, the bureaucracy, and the palace. Thailand has experienced over 20 coups or attempted coups since 1932 — more than any other country — reflecting the unresolved tension between democratic aspiration and authoritarian tradition that the revolution set in motion.