Politics and Finance: Financial Reform and Public Administration of the Siamese Government between 1900-1910

Abstract

This article studies the financial reform and public administration of the Siamese government during 1900-1910. The objectives of this study were: 1) Administration of Siam during the reign of King Rama V, 2) Financial reforms during the establishment of the Banknote Department, and 3) Political negotiations between the Siamese government and the British colonial government from a monetary perspective. The concept of the article is colonialism, which is consistent with the regional context. The article carried out a series of primary and secondary sources along with historical research. The results of the study show that during the 1900s the government implemented intense financial reforms and British colonial bureaucrats assisted in the banknote publishing process. In addition, the Siamese government encouraged people to use the Baht currency while implementing a policy to reduce the use of colonial currency in Siam. This study brings about to understanding the financial changes in Siamese history that link the Southeast Asian context and the role of British colonial bureaucrats.