Business Networks and Varieties of Capitalism in Thailand: Adding the Context of History, Political Structures, and Social and Cultural Values

Abstract

Interest, debate, and criticism across the social sciences of theories and models that seek to describe and analyse the development and types of capitalism have a long history. We can locate the ‘Varieties of Capitalism’ (VOC) analysis within these historical and wider theories. Despite critiques of the VOC, our examination of an often ignored and under-researched example, Thailand, shows it remains a useful analytical framework when VOC is grounded in its history and when we push theory forward. We do this and add a new ‘sphere’ of ‘Context’ as historical and political background, social, cultural values, and beliefs should be part of any analysis.