Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the opposition party, replaced Somchai Wongsawat in December 2008, who was forced to resign earlier that month. He is the country's fifth leader in just over two years.

Thailand's recent past has been something of an economic boom and bust, with an unstable government, unrest in the Muslim south and the effects of the December 2004 tsunami disaster. 

After a quarter of a century of military rule, civilian government was restored to Thailand following student riots in Bangkok, but this was to last only three years before the military took over again in 1976.

Thailand returned to a civilian government again in 1983, but eight years later another military coup took place. This time, though, a civilian prime minister was instated, and despite various government collapses and allegations of corruption in high places, parliamentary democracy prevailed until September 2006 when there was a peaceful military coup and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was forced to stand down. In December 2007 Samak Sundaravej's People Power Party (PPP) won 228 seats in the 480-seat house.

On December 26 2004, an earthquake in southeast Asia triggered a tsunami that impacted considerably upon Thailand's touristic infrastructure. The west coast was the worst hit area, including outlying areas and tourist resorts near Phuket. Many hotels were ruined. Thousands were killed and there are still around three thousand people missing. Although the Thai authorities were not keen on requesting disaster relief aid, they have sought technical help in identifying the many who died - this process is ongoing.