Within the past two years, Thailand has experienced a number of events that have called into question the country’s political stability. In this article, David Lyman puts these events into historical perspective by looking back on the path that has led to the current situation. This article provides a thorough overview of Thailand’s recent history and explains many of the driving factors underlying the political instability of 2008. The article concludes that there is reason for optimism about Thailand’s future, with progressive development likely to return to the country.