This qualitative study of the relationships between one primate city, Bangkok, and its hinterland, the Thai nation, breaks new ground in general sociological theory, redirects the study of city-hinterland relationships, and presents an interpretation of Thai political history that departs significantly from conventional analyses. Professor London finds a direct correlation between the nature of intergroup relationships and the type of parasitism or internal colonialism evident in center-periphery relationships. He concludes that Bangkok, through the operations of its decision-making elite, has historically been parasitic on the Thai nation and that primate city parasitism is essentially a political phenomenon, more complex than has been previously suggested.