Thailand’s Trade Relations with the German Democratic Republic: the Example of Carl Zeiss Jena

Abstract

With the example of one of the German Democratic Republic’s (gdr) most renowned high-tech companies, Carl Zeiss Jena, this article argues that despite global and regional pressures, Thailand’s international trade relations have been nurtured largely without reference to ideological bias. Founded in 1846, the Carl Zeiss Jena Company grew to become an important patent holder in the production and export of precision optical instruments. By the 1930s, Carl Zeiss Jena was already an important international player, attracting military institutions and land surveying specialists, including clients from Siam/Thailand. In the decads to come, Carl Zeiss Jena’s relations with Thailand transcended the major global conflicts of the twentieth century, most notably the acrimonious Cold War period and Germany’s partition. This stability is a testament to the flexibility with which Thailand’s diplomatic and military elites have been willing to engage with diverse partners regardless of political affiliations and fundamental ideological differences.