In the first decades of the 20th century the city grew in all directions and numerous roadways were added to carry new motorised forms of transport. In 1932 Thailand established a constitutional government and Bangkok became the hub of a vast but still expanding public service. In WWII the Japanese briefly occupied parts of the city and following the war Bangkok quickened its pace towards modernisation. From the mid-1960s the city became a favourite 'rest and recreation' spot for foreign troops involved in the Vietnam conflict and the sex trade continues to this day in the form of various nightclubs and massage parlours. After riding a double-digit economic boom through the 1980s, Bangkok was hit hard by the economic crisis that swept Asia in 1997 - a crisis that came with warning signs which few local and international observers chose to acknowledge.

Today Bangkok can be found reprising its role as the financial hub of mainland Southeast Asia. In 2000, charismatic conservative warhorse Samak Sundaravej unexpectedly won the city's governorship on an anti-corruption platform. He subsequently had a curse placed on the city's crooked cops.

In 2003, the revelations by massage parlour owner Chuwit Kamolvisit of the seedier side of the industry - and police involvement therein - led to a major political scandal. But 2004 proved to be no less eventful. The avian flu crisis saw large swathes of the city temporarily quarantined while thousands of birds were slaughtered. Planned reforms of zoning regulations, intended to close all entertainment establishments by midnight, reportedly led to a mafia revolt and government capitulation, but not without drawing widespread public condemnation. Then resentment overflowed when plans were announced to privatise utility companies.

The most recent controversy in the capital revolved around the tax-free sale of Prime Minister Thaksin's telecommunications business after passing favourable legislation. Protesters took to the streets to demand his resignation over this blatant conflict of interest. The city was split neatly into two long-standing social classes: the wealthy intelligentsia against Thaksin and the working class who support him. Taxi drivers often grilled customers on their politics and would refuse them transport if they didn't support the prime minister. In early 2006, Thaksin held a snap election, which resulted in even more controversy and his decision to step down as prime minister. Months later and Thailand is operating without a permanent legislature because the election results were inconclusive in many districts (the opposition party boycotted the elections). Thaksin has returned to the helm after a 'break' to what many people presume will be a permanent position.

The street protests have ceased in part out of respect for the King who celebrates his 60th year on the throne in June 2006. This momentous occasion will be marked with a staging of the rarely seen Royal Barges procession. Bumper stickers and T-shirts reading 'We love the King' are being sold throughout town and are usually in bright yellow, the colour associated with the day of the week the King was born.