Title: Trust Building Through Army Development Initiatives in Conflict Situations: The Case of Yalannanbaru in the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand
Author: Martine Van Es
Year: 2009
Keywords: N/A
Theme: Civil society and Democracy
Advisor(s): Nishikawa, Yukiko, advisor, Chantana Wungaeo, co-advisor
The full thesis available here.
Abstract: This thesis studies the Jalanan Baru project, implemented by military agencies in the southern border provinces of Thailand, to examine whether the project contributed to building trust among the local population. The study utilizes the theory of trust and distrust in conflict situations and development initiatives by Thai military personnel, focusing specifically on the Jalanan Baru project. The Jalanan Baru project is a youth anti-drug training camp in the three southern border provinces. Data analysis reveals that the project generated both trust and distrust, indicating the multifaceted nature of relationships within conflict situations and suggesting that the project may have created distrust alongside trust. Furthermore, applying the theory of trust and distrust scales, the conflict between expectations and outcomes of military-initiated development projects influenced the attitudes of participants. The study found that the project's implementation involved multiple stages, each contributing to varying levels of trust and distrust between participants and the military personnel responsible. Building trust between groups using such projects has limitations. Distrust within this society remains at a level that restricts the trust-building process. This study concludes that building trust through development projects initiated by military agencies, such as the Jalanan Baru project, requires a comprehensive analysis of relationships and trust-building, understanding the dynamics of the conflict broadly and holistically. Without addressing the root causes of the conflict, military development projects are unlikely to improve the situation in the three southern border provinces. This study focuses on the Yalannanbaru program run by the Thai army in the southern border provinces of Thailand in order to examine whether the project contributes to obtain trust from the local people. In so doing, this thesis introduces theories on trust and distrust to the conflict situation and development initiatives run by the Thai army. The study utilizes an in-depth single-case study on the Yalannanbaru program; a drugs re-education camp for youth in the southern border provinces. In the course of analysis, the notion of separate dimensions of trust and distrust is applied, acknowledging the multifaceted character of many relations and the possible coexistence of trust and distrust in a relationship. In addition, the theory of calibration of trust and distrust is introduced in order to examine the discrepancy between expectations and outcomes of army development initiatives can influence participants' attitudes. The study revealed that through various processes, the program has been able to change levels of interpersonal trust and distrust between the participating youth and the army officers directly involved. However, the potential to address intergroup trust and distrust through the program is currently very limited; the existing distrust in society is a strong restraint on any trust building process. From the study, the thesis concludes that trust building through development initiatives by the Thai army like Yalannanbaru requires more careful analysis on relation and trust building with thorough understanding of wider conflict dynamics. Without focusing on resolution by tackling the root causes of the conflict, army development programs have little potential to contribute to improving the situation in the southern border provinces.