The contrast between yesterday’s Siam and today’s Thailand, however, developed over time as a consequence of basic economic and social changes and as a by-product of the government’s efforts to modernize the country. This modernization has shattered the self sufficient economy of local communities and centralized the polity of the provinces. Ultimately, this process has tied the country economically to the global market economy under transnational capitalism and politically to the new international order. These economic and structural changes have had a great impact on all social and cultural aspects of Thai society and consequently have affected the social values and well-being of Thai people.