THE LEADING FORCES IN REFORM MOVEMENTS IN SIAM (THAILAND) AND VIET NAM FROM THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY TO THE 20th CENTURY

Abstract

From the second half of the 19^th century to the early 20^th century, Southest Asia nations had to deal with the aggressive pressure from the Western colonialism in many various ways. In Siam, the reform forces included the the Chakri monarchs, especially King Mongkut and King Chulalongkorn. In Vietnam, the reform forces were Confucian intellectuals, patriotic scholars who soon contacted with Western civilization. The similarities and differences of the reform forces in Siam and Vietnam due to the economic, cultural, social and ideological conditions influenced on success or failure of national reform movements.