AID VOLATILITY AND DONOR REPUTATION: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE FROM ZAMBIA

Title: AID VOLATILITY AND DONOR REPUTATION: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE FROM ZAMBIA

Author: Lieke Snel

Year: 2025

Keywords: N/A

Themes: Post-development,Civil society and Democracy,Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Dr. Pawin, Siriprapanukul, Ph.D.

The full thesis available N/A.

Abstract: The abrupt suspension of U.S. foreign aid in 2025 has raised questions about how aid volatility shapes donor reputation and the soft power of donor states. In Zambia, a country heavily affected by the 2025 aid cuts, the subsequent announcement of a new U.S. health sector commitment created an opportunity to examine whether donor reputation can be restored following a period of aid withdrawal. This study investigates the extent to which renewed U.S. health assistance influences trust, reputation, and willingness to cooperate with the United States, as well as how different aid framings shape these perceptions. Using a randomized video vignette experiment among Zambian respondents, participants were assigned to one of three conditions: aid cuts only, aid cuts followed by a neutrally framed health commitment, or aid cuts followed by a strategically framed health commitment emphasizing U.S. interests. The findings indicate that exposure to information about the aid cuts resulted in significantly less positive evaluations of the United States. However, renewed health assistance improved donor reputation and soft power-related outcomes relative to the cuts-only condition. These positive effects were significantly weaker when assistance was framed as serving American strategic interests. The study demonstrates that aid volatility can have important reputational consequences, while also showing that renewed assistance can help rebuild trust, reputation, and willingness to cooperate when perceived as a credible commitment rather than merely as a strategic instrument.

Education as resistance : post-coup university students' educational choices in Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar

Title: Education as resistance : post-coup university students' educational choices in Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar

Author: Phyu Hnin Thawda

Year: 2025

Keywords: epistemic resistance, capability deprivation, Myanmar higher education, educational credentialism, post-coup student agency

Themes: Education, Migration

Advisor(s): Carl Nigel Middleton

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The 1st February 2021 military coup in Myanmar precipitated one of the most severe higher education crises in contemporary Southeast Asia. This thesis examines how post-coup university students in Yangon and Mandalay construct educational choices as an act of resistance, and how they sustain those choices amid tension between academic success and the precarity of professional development. Framed through three interlocking theoretical lenses in epistemic resistance and decoloniality, the capability deprivation approach, and the concept of revolutionary everyday life and contentious politics. The study compares the experiences of social science and medical science students, whose disciplinary contexts differently constrain the feasibility of alternative, non-state education. Employing a qualitative, phenomenological research design supplemented by comparative case analysis, the study draws on semi-structured, in-depth interviews with participants purposively across four groups, defined by discipline (medical/social science) and educational pathway (alternative provider/return to public university), alongside documentary analysis of policy and institutional sources. Findings in the thesis showed that how post-coup university students expressed “education as resistance” through participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement, made educational choices that shaped by four different interacting factors evaluating educational legitimacy and sustain their resistance to knowledge system under the military regime. The thesis contributes an empirically grounded account of student political agency under authoritarian rupture and offers policy recommendations to support alternative educational pathways and strengthen credential-recognition advocacy for Myanmar's displaced student population.

Community, empowerment, and everyday politics: public space between Bangkok and Barcelona

Title: Community, empowerment, and everyday politics: public space between Bangkok and Barcelona

Author: Franziska Dienstl

Year: 2025

Keywords: Public Space; Community; Empowerment; The Right to the City; Emotional, Geography; Spatial Appropriation

Themes: Public Sphere and Media, Environmental Politics and Policy

Advisor(s): Jakkrit Sangkhamanee

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This thesis examines how public spaces with high citizen appropriation contribute to urban residents’ sense of community and empowerment in two contrasting cases, Wat Don Cemetery Park in Bangkok and Plaça de Santa Madrona in Barcelona. It approaches public space not simply as physical space, but as a social and political infrastructure through which quality of life, as well as dimensions of community, civic identity, power, and expression are manifested and (re-)negotiated in everyday urban life (Abrahão, 2016 ; Andersson, 2016). The study brings together the Right to the City (Lefebvre, 1996) and Emotional Geography (Davidson et al., 2016) to analyse how public space works as a field of power dynamics and how users within it affectively experience space, in turn re-shaping relationships with and within public space. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative, phenomenological and comparative case study design based on literature review, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews. By comparing two politically and culturally distinct urban contexts, the paper asks how perceptions of community and empowerment are shaped by different spatial, cultural and political conditions. This further fills a methodological gap of comparison across different contexts of ‘development’, as described by Anguelovski (2014). This paper contributes to debates on urban justice futures by showing how public space is lived, negotiated, and politically meaningful across different contexts.

Local innovations in the davao cacao industry: the role of intermediaries in improving farmer livelihoods

Title: Local innovations in the davao cacao industry: the role of intermediaries in improving farmer livelihoods

Author: Gabrielle Dominique Centena

Year: 2025

Keywords: cacao, Philippines, Davao, local innovation, inclusive development,, traceability

Themes: Innovation for Inclusive Development ,Environmental Politics and Policy

Advisor(s): Carl Nigel Middleton

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Despite having the ideal landscape and climate for cacao production, the Philippines still lags in output generation. Globally, the country is the 24th largest producer of cacao beans, with 78% of its national cacao output coming from the Davao region. The research primarily concentrates on examining local innovations in the Davao cacao industry, the processes on how they’re produced, and the innovation ecosystem composed of actors such as farmers, government agencies, research institutions, private industry associations, and external organizations that enable them. Grounded in political economy, the research draws on the theoretical frameworks of local innovation and inclusive development. A total of sixteen interviews across all the actors was conducted in the Davao region, mainly seeking to examine how local innovation arises within the industry and how it services their objective of sustainable outcomes. The research found that local innovations in the Davao cacao industry are perceived to contribute to inclusive development when it is initiated based on grounded realities and that there must be a collaborative ecosystem and system-level support to ensure the inclusion of smallholders. The research also stresses the role of collective action in increasing smallholder inclusion. The findings provide a deeper understanding of the cacao industry in the country and offer valuable insights for other agricultural commodity chains

Chinese students’ mothers in Thailand: transnational education and migration

Title: Chinese students’ mothers in Thailand: transnational education and migration

Author: Shan Li

Year: 2025

Keywords: Transnational education, migration, Chinese mother, Thailand

Themes: Migration, Education, Social Welfare

Advisor(s): Premjai Vungsriphisal

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This research focuses on Chinese mothers accompanying their children to study in Thailand, exploring their life experiences, identity transformation, and social adaptation within this transnational educational migration phenomenon. A mixed research method (questionnaire survey and interviews) was employed, systematically analyzing data from 151 questionnaires and 13 interviewed mothers. Results show that these accompanying mothers generally possess high levels of education and economic capability, with most abandoning their original professions for their children's education, forming a transnational family structure of husband remaining in China, wife accompanying her child in Thailand. While this model reinforces traditional gender roles, it also encourages women to demonstrate a certain degree of autonomy and re-creation in a cross-cultural environment. The study found that they face challenges such as language barriers, identity disparity, and psychological stress during the migration process, but they also achieve self-development and social integration through learning Thai, participating in the community, and engaging in side jobs. The findings not only enrich the theoretical discussion on transnational educational migration of East Asian women but also provide empirical references and policy implications for Thai-Chinese educational cooperation and family immigration policies

Digging deeper : coal workers’ perceptions of reskilling towards future career paths in the green energy transition at Mae Moh, Thailand

Title: Digging deeper : coal workers’ perceptions of reskilling towards future career paths in the green energy transition at Mae Moh, Thailand

Author: Tiana Voogt

Year: 2025

Keywords: N/A

Themes: Post-development,Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Khathaleeya Liamdee

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to understand coal workers’ perceptions towards reskilling for the GET. Rather than assuming resistance or acceptance, this study seeks to understand the nuanced reality of workers' perspectives - their concerns about job quality and stability, their readiness for retraining, their trust (or lack thereof) in government and industry promises, and their visions for their own futures. By focusing on mid‑career, medium‑skilled workers, this research targets a group that are most exposed to transition risks, with significant remaining working years, yet substantial investment in their current occupations. This research examines those most directly impacted by policy decisions regarding the closing down of fossil fuel infrastructure.

Digital self-efficacy and digital anxiety among older adults in Bangkok : a mixed-methods case study at the Yannawa elderly school

Title: Digital self-efficacy and digital anxiety among older adults in Bangkok : a mixed-methods case study at the Yannawa elderly school

Author: Stephen Baker

Year: 2025

Keywords:

Themes: Innovation for Inclusive Development, Digital Technology and Development

Advisor(s): Pimsiri Aroonsri

The full thesis is available here.

Abstract: Thailand is undergoing a dual transformation marked by rapid digitalisation under the Thailand 4.0 agenda and an accelerated transition into a super-aged society. While national strategies prioritise digital infrastructure and high-value labour, older adults remain disproportionately excluded from meaningful participation in the digital economy. This exclusion is less a problem of access than of low digital self-efficacy, technology anxiety, and sociocultural factors that shape how older adults experience and respond to digital environments. Within community contexts, these barriers are often reinforced by fear of making mistakes, reliance on others, and norms such as Kreng jai, contributing to a persistent “grey digital divide.” Existing digital literacy initiatives tend to emphasise technical skills while overlooking the psychological and relational conditions necessary for confidence-building and sustained engagement. Drawing on Sen’s capability approach, Bandura’s social learning theory and principles of andragogy. This study uses a mixed methods design to investigate the levels of digital self-efficacy and digitisation anxiety among older adults at the Yannawa Elderly School in Bangkok and to explore the physical, psychological and sociocultural barriers that shape their digital learning experiences. The findings establish an empirical baseline and identify implications for design of inclusive, community embedded digital literacy programmes that support sustainable digital inclusion and productive ageing.

Navigating precarity : hope, agency and life experiences of female ethnic care leavers in Chiang Rai, Thailand

Title: Navigating precarity : hope, agency and life experiences of female ethnic care leavers in Chiang Rai, Thailand

Author: Su Mei Michelle Png

Year: 2025

Keywords: Institutional care, Non-citizenship, Precarity, Youth agency, Hope

Themes: Migration, social welfare

Advisor(s): Jiraporn Laocharoenwong

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: More than half of privately run alternative care settings are located in northern Thailand. In Chiang Rai, historical migration from Myanmar has contributed to a significant presence of ethnic communities and migrant families who often place their children in institutional care to access education and basic living support. Children typically reside in centres from ages 6 to 18 and may possess Thai citizenship or non-citizen identification. While some stay briefly, the transition out of care upon completing high school is marked by constraints and insecurity related to independence, finances, non-citizenship and adjusting aspirations. Using the lens of precarity, agency and hope, this qualitative study examines the experiences of ten Akha women aged 19-29 who have left care and how they navigated precarity in their lives. Drawing on semi-structured and life history interviews, participant observation, and solicited diaries, this research reveals that precarity is not merely a post-care challenge ; for those with migration backgrounds, it is an ordinary condition experienced from early childhood. Daily independent life is shaped by complex factors, including unsafe work conditions, existential disconnectedness from social relationships, non-citizenship barriers and fragile aspirations. While the nature of precarity differs between Thai citizens and non-citizens, it is consistently framed by systemic structures and the transition out of care. This thesis argues that precarity is normalised in their lives structurally enforced by the conditions of leaving care, migrant descent, limited family support and non-citizenship status. Crucially, while their agency operates as a vital, compelled response to these structural limits, it is their hope that actively motivates them to negotiate for more secure life conditions.

From rice farming to plastic recycling: local innovation and agrarian change in Minh Khai Village, Hung Yen province, Vietnam

Title: From rice farming to plastic recycling: local innovation and agrarian change in Minh Khai Village, Hung Yen province, Vietnam

Author: Phuong Linh Pham

Year: 2025

Keywords: plastic waste recycling, waste economy, local innovation, agrarian change

Themes: Innovation for Inclusive Development ,Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Carl Nigel Middleton

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This research analyzes the initiation and expansion of the plastic waste recycling business from the perspective of local innovation, and the agrarian consequences of this business in Minh Khai village, Hung Yen, Vietnam. Originating in the 1980s as individual efforts to diversify household livelihoods amid poverty, Minh Khai’s plastic recycling industry gradually evolved into a community-based economic ecosystem. This development was shaped by the opportunities created through economic reforms, the geographical advantages of certain regions, and the strong role of kinship networks in sharing knowledge and new livelihood models. This transformation in livelihood patterns has driven a transition in land use from agricultural to industrial purposes, altered the composition of the labor force from local villagers to migrant workers, and reshaped the socio-economic structure of the community. The Minh Khai case illustrates how the emergence and expansion of the waste economy in the Global South stem not only from people’s efforts to escape poverty in the absence of adequate state support, but also from the state’s failure to guide livelihoods and local economies toward stable and sustainable pathways

Socio-economic impacts of foreign direct investment for long-term success : the case of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers in Thailand

Title: Socio-economic impacts of foreign direct investment for long-term success : the case of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers in Thailand

Author: Ping Wang

Year: 2025

Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Electric Vehicle (EV), Chinese EV Manufacturer, Thailand, Automotive Industrial Transition, Social License to Operate (SLO)

Themes: Innovation for Inclusive Development , post-development

Advisor(s): Pungpond Rukumnuaykit

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This thesis investigates the socio-economic impacts of Chinese Electric Vehicle (EV) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) within Thailand’s automotive ecosystem. Positioned at the intersection of international business and international development, the study addresses a critical strategic paradox: how efficiency-seeking multinational firms reconcile purely commercial cost-competitiveness configurations with legitimacy-seeking actions to secure a "Social License to Operate" (SLO) from host-country actors. Based on a theoretical framework constructed combing Ownership-Location-Internalization (OLI) Framework, the Institutional Theory and the Global Value Chain (GVC) Framework, this study examines the dualities of Chinese firms’ investment strategies and operational mechanisms driven by Thailand’s industrial policies and domestic realities. A qualitative methodology was employed, utilizing secondary desk research on empirical actions alongside primary data gathered via semi-structured, in-depth interviews with factory workers, corporate management, vocational trainers, and domestic suppliers. The findings reveal a distinct temporal pattern in the socio-economic impacts of Chinese EV investment in Thailand. In the short term, the rapid expansion of Chinese EV manufacturers intensifies market competition, compresses industry profit margins, and generates labor market adjustment pressures arising from skills mismatches. Traditional supplier networks also face structural challenges from the vertical integration practices of Chinese firms. In the long term, however, the global growth ambitions of Chinese firms drive greater localization, adaptability, and stakeholder engagement. Through partnership with vocational training and higher-education institutions, as well as collaboration with established Thai suppliers, Chinese EV investment cultivates human capital enhancement, technological upgrading, and deeper industrial integration. These processes are expected to accelerate Thailand’s green industrial transformation, enhance income-generating opportunities, and strengthen long-term economic resilience.

Thailand's official development assistance: an analysis of development diplomacy

Title: Thailand's official development assistance: an analysis of development diplomacy

Author: Monrada Yamkasikorn

Year: 2025

Keywords: Development diplomacy, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Official Development Assistance

Themes: Post-development,Civil society and Democracy

Advisor(s): Kasira Cheeppensook

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This study examines Thailand’s transition from an aid recipient to an emerging donor and analyzes the evolution and limitations of its Official Development Assistance (ODA). It seeks to explain how Thailand has repositioned itself within the global development architecture and the implications of this shift for regional development dynamics. Drawing on political economy of aid, this study argues that Thailand’s donor transformation reflects a gradual and context-driven process shaped by both domestic developments and evolving regional norms, rather than a purely linear outcome of economic growth. The formal articulation of donor status, particularly during the administration of Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, the-then Prime Minister, can be understood as part of a broader effort to align Thailand with emerging practices of South–South cooperation. Nevertheless, the transition continues to face limitations, particularly in terms of strategic coherence, policy direction, and the ability to generate sustained and strategic development cooperation. The findings indicate that while Thailand’s ODA contributes to her role on active development diplomacy and addressing regional cooperation norms, it remains constrained by fragmented institutional coordination, effective evaluation mechanism, and resource limitations. A predominantly state-centric and top-down approach, combined with an emphasis on soft power objectives, may further limit local ownership and responsiveness to recipient needs. Moreover, Thailand’s aid practices may reproduce patterns of interdependence, even in the absence of deliberate intent. The study concludes that Thailand occupies an intermediate position in global development governance, where development assistance simultaneously reflects cooperation and strategic influence expansion.

Assessing Karen indigenous governance in Kaw Thay Ghu, Kawthoolei through the lens of the governance vitality framework

Title: Assessing Karen indigenous governance in Kaw Thay Ghu, Kawthoolei through the lens of the governance vitality framework

Author: Phapi Rakdamrongphorn

Year: 2025

Keywords: Kaw Indigenous Governance Community Conservation Indigenous Resurgence Cultural Resilience

Themes: Environmental Politics and Policy,Civil society and Democracy,Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Carl Nigel Middleton

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This thesis examines how the traditional Karen governance institution of the Kaw sustains environmental conservation and community well-being in Kaw Thay Ghu, an Indigenous territory in Kawthoolei (Karen State, Myanmar). Situated within a conflict-affected landscape facing challenges from armed violence, displacement, and climate change, this study employs a qualitative case study approach, combining focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with elders, leaders, and youth. The research applies the Governance Vitality Framework (GVF) to assess how the five interrelated dimensions of governance are articulated within the Kaw system: Strategic Adaptability, Connectivity and Collaboration, Wisdom from Local Experience, Creativity and Empowerment, and Inspiring Collective Values. Findings reveal that the revitalization of Indigenous practices—especially the Yaw Kaw ritual or “walking the land”—has strengthened all five dimensions of governance vitality. Yaw Kaw serves as an adaptive governance mechanism that re-engages youth in ancestral stewardship, fosters inter-village cooperation, reinforces ecological knowledge, and renews shared spiritual values. This resurgent Indigenous praxis enhances both conservation outcomes, such as the establishment of community forests and fish sanctuaries, and the broader goals of cultural resilience and Indigenous self-determination. By linking cultural revival with environmental governance, the study demonstrates that governance vitality plays an essential role in sustaining ecological integrity and community autonomy in conflict-affected Indigenous territories. The thesis contributes to academic and policy debates on Indigenous governance, conservation, and resilience, offering practical recommendations for policymakers, conservation organizations, and international allies to support Indigenous-led environmental governance and peacebuilding.This thesis examines the role of traditional Karen governance institutions, or the "Kaw" system, in maintaining environmental conservation and community well-being in Kaw Thay Ghu, an indigenous territory within the Kawthule Administrative Region (Karen State, Myanmar). This is done within the context of an area affected by conflict and facing challenges from armed violence, displacement, and climate change. The study employs a qualitative case study approach, combining focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with elders, community leaders, and youth. The research applies the Governance Vitality (GVF) framework to assess the five interconnected dimensions of governance within the "Kaw" system: Strategic Adaptability, Connectivity and Collaboration, Wisdom from Local Experience, Creativity and Empowerment, and Inspiring Collective Values. The findings indicate that the revitalization of indigenous practices is crucial. In particular, the "Yaw Kaw" or "Boundary Walk" ritual has helped strengthen the five dimensions of Governance Vitality. "Yaw Kaw" serves as an adaptive governance mechanism that engages youth in the preservation of ancestral lands, fosters inter-village cooperation, enhances ecological knowledge, and revitalizes shared spiritual values. This indigenous resurgence has improved conservation outcomes, such as the establishment of community forests and fish sanctuaries. Including broader goals of cultural resilience and indigenous self-determination rights, this study demonstrates how linking cultural revitalization to environmental governance makes governance vital in maintaining ecological integrity and community autonomy in conflict-affected indigenous territories. This thesis contributes to academic and policy debates on indigenous governance, conservation, and resilience, and offers practical recommendations for policymakers, conservation organizations, and international partners to support indigenous-led environmental governance and peacebuilding.

Yunnanese Chinese youth’s aspirations to migrate and migration infrastructure in Doi Mae Salong, Chiang Rai

Title: Yunnanese Chinese youth’s aspirations to migrate and migration infrastructure in Doi Mae Salong, Chiang Rai

Author: Chingen Chiou

Year: 2025

Keywords: Yunnanese Chinese, Migration Aspiration, Migration Infrastructure, Doi Mae Salong

Themes: Migration,Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Jiraporn Laocharoenwong

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This thesis examines the migration aspirations of Yunnanese Chinese youth and the migration infrastructure in Doi Mae Salong, Chiang Rai. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and semi-structured interviews, it analyzes the social and economic conditions that drive their future mobility and migration routes. In tandem, it explores the migration infrastructure that mediates the realization of their mobility. It argues that institutions originally established as sites of diasporic cultural reproduction have reassembled into migration infrastructures that further shape and direct the younger generation’s mobile futures. This research expands on youth perspectives and their conditions within Thailand’s Yunnanese Chinese community. It contributes to discussions of identity and educational institutions that are less addressed in migration infrastructure literature.

Soulaani praxis : the blueprint they called radical development

Title: Soulaani praxis : the blueprint they called radical development

Author: Aliyah Bell

Year: 2025

Keywords: Soulaan, Racial capitalism, Institution-building, Organized abandonment, Freedom farms cooperative, Black panther party, Black americans

Themes: Post-development,Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Thanapan Laiprako

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The United States is built upon foundational contradictions, promising liberty while institutionalizing slavery and promoting democracy while denying rights to many. Rather than treating these contradictions as historical anomalies, this thesis examines them as central features of a racialized social order that has shaped the political, economic, and developmental experiences of Soulaani people. Throughout this study, the term Soulaani refers to descendants of Africans forcibly brought to the United States through the transatlantic slave trade whose ancestral lineage is rooted within the American experience of slavery and its enduring legacies. Within this context, Black resistance has often been framed as a struggle for rights and recognition. Yet it has also functioned as a site of development, generating alternative systems of survival, care, and collective advancement. Drawing from Development Studies, Political Thought, and theories of cultural hegemony, this research explores how Soulaani communities responded to exclusion by creating institutions, practices, and forms of collective action that challenged dominant understandings of development. Through an examination of community-led initiatives, political organizing, and self-determination, the thesis investigates how development can emerge from below rather than solely through the state, market, or international institutions. By centering Soulaani experiences, this study contributes to broader debates on development, power, and social transformation while inviting a reconsideration of who is recognized as a producer of development and what forms development can take.

Negotiating Identities: A Transformation of Thai-Muslim in the Baan Somdej Mosque Community (Bangkok)

Title: Negotiating Identities: A Transformation of Thai-Muslim in the Baan Somdej Mosque Community (Bangkok)

Author: Vinissa Kattiya-aree

Year: 2024

Keywords: Arabization, Urbanization, Islam in Thailand, Muslim Community

Themes: Civil society and Democracy, Human Rights

Advisor(s): Bhanubhatra Jittiang

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Thailand is home to more than 6 million Muslims, making Thai-Muslim the largest religious minority group. Thai – Muslim communities have long been a part of Thai society, participating in all levels of society, from economics to politics. Despite much research written on the Thai Muslim population and communities, the Bangkok Muslim communities remain understudied. This research hopes to expand the existing research on Muslims in Thailand and offer an interdisciplinary explanation focusing on international development and anthropological aspects of the transformation of a Thai Muslim community. This thesis presents a case study of the Muslims of the Baan Somdej Mosque community, located in the Thonburi District of Bangkok. It aims to document the changes happening in the community, from clothing to traditions, in the hope of capturing the current stories of the community.Furthermore, this thesis also examined factors contributing to those socio-cultural changes happening within the community. The methodology for this research consists of key informant interviews, field observation, and documentary analysis. It concludes that the transformation of the Thai Muslims in the Baan Somdej Mosque Community is a result of the interplay between urbanization and Arabization, where urbanization drove the community to redefine themselves and Arabization, as a form of globalization, is out to set the standard for what it means to be “Muslim.” This interaction created new Muslim identities for the Muslims in Bangkok, Thailand

Understanding pluriversal ontology: the cases of three alternative agriculture communities in Sisaket province, northeastern, Thailand

Title: Understanding pluriversal ontology: the cases of three alternative agriculture communities in Sisaket province, northeastern, Thailand

Author: Thita Ornin

Year: 2024

Keywords: Alternative Agriculture, Post-development, Pluriverse, Ontology

Themes: Post-development, Environmental Politics and Policy, Innovation for Inclusive Development

Advisor(s): Carl Nigel Middleton

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: In reaction to the global development paradigm, the concept of Pluriverse has played a pivotal role in exploring alternatives to development, aiming to foster a world that accommodates multiple worlding with the goals to facilitate various approaches to collective well-being, moving away from anthropocentric, linear growth within the modern capitalist development. This thesis seeks to understand alternative agriculture cases in the Northeast of Thailand through the Pluriversal ontology conceptual framework and to determine its usefulness through the following proposed framework; (1) alternative agricultural development discourse analysis, (2) friction and assimilation with modernity and (3) post-development values. Taken an inspiration from various global south countries’ literature especially from South Asia and Latin America, the thesis adds empirical case studies from Sisaket province, Thailand, to the literature. Firstly, the Buddhist community of Srisa Asoke which engages in natural farming guided by a stringent Buddhist moral code. Secondly, the Taam and People Association, a social movement which comprises individuals whose wetland livelihoods are impacted by the Rasi Salai dam. Lastly, Raitong and SCFN Farmers, a social enterprise-oriented organization dedicating to support smallholder organic farmers in participating in the global food market while adopting the principles of organic farming and fair-trade global standards.This thesis is a qualitative study based on the use of primary and secondary data and extensive fieldwork, including participant observation and numerous in-depth interviews with identified community members.It argues that the case studies can be identified with more than one alternative agriculture development discourse at a time, and that discourses are fluid and influential to one another. The three alternative cases also illustrated coexistence with the mainstream development, creating friction and strategic self-assimilation with modernity represented by state, surplus, and science. And the post-development values discussed in this paper including simplicity, justice, equity and non-hierarchy, rights, non-violence, the economy of care and gender inclusivity, prosperity and dignity, autonomy and self-reliance, solidarity and reciprocity, common ethics, oneness with nature, although similar values are found in alternative communities worldwide, the practical nuances of these values from Thailand differ from other countries in the Global South. The values aligned with post-development can empower the communities to maintain their alternative identities, allowing them to practically navigate within the mainstream context while holding onto diverse imaginaries. This is to say that alternative agriculture movement, all has varied ontological realities which were influenced by interplays on external development agendas, and internal idealism. All can shape forms of social change in their own scale whether the approaches are called reformative or transformative

Thailand's never-ending pesticide debate: Contested future sociotechnical imaginaries through a relational co-productionist lens

Title: Thailand's never-ending pesticide debate: Contested future sociotechnical imaginaries through a relational co-productionist lens

Author: Henriette Erawan Kamphorst

Year: 2024

Keywords: Sociotechnical Imaginaries, Pathways, Relational Co-production, Sustainable Agriculture, Futures thinking

Themes: Environmental Politics and Policy, Health, Post-development

Advisor(s): Carl Nigel Middleton

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Since the introduction of the Green Revolution, the use of agrochemicals in Thai farming has sparked repeated contentious debates among local policy elites, addressing issues such as consumer health, farmer livelihoods, and environmental degradation. In 2019, this subject re-emerged on the policy agenda with the proposed ban of three key agrochemicals: Chlorpyrifos, Paraquat, and Glyphosate. In order to understand why the pesticide issue has remained on policy actors’ agendas for so long and still continues to be subject to ongoing debate, this research takes on a new perspective by adopting a relational co-productionist approach in the construction of contesting sociotechnical imaginaries of Thailand’s future pathways to sustainable agriculture. It examines how these imaginaries shape the positions of two dominant movements in this debate: Sustainable Intensification (SI), which advocates for controlled pesticide use to maintain food security, and Agroecology (AE), which seeks fundamental reform of the global food system for food sovereignty.This study employs a qualitative research design built on 29 in-depth interviews with actors from relevant epistemic communities supporting each sociotechnical imaginary. The conceptual framework guided the interview process, focusing on the four sociotechnical dimensions to enable for a comparative analysis of their interactions.The study produced notable key findings. Firstly, by exposing the chronology of events that led to the window of opportunity for a ban policy to emerge, it becomes clear that the political context of the 2019 general election played a critical role in involving public health experts and shifting the debate toward health-related issues rather than the more common environmental focus. Secondly, the intertwined nature of the narratives leading both imaginaries has often led to any debates quickly reaching an impasse as arguments become repetitive and outcomes unchanged, with the notable contention being the true definition of what sustainable agriculture truly means. Thirdly, agrochemicals are shown to be either viewed as part of the solution by the SI supporters or as part of the problem by AE advocates leading to different kinds of knowledge bases to be created and built upon. Based on these findings, the recommendation is made that each side has the potential to take a step forward in attempting to find common ground together by shifting collaborative dialogue towards long-term future making, with the inclusion of farmers’ voices who may offer a relatively lesser heard yet vital perspective in policy debates. This study delivers strong implications that the framework of relational co-production of sociotechnical imaginaries offers policymakers a lens for understanding the roots of policy inertia by situating debates in the context of their position in peoples’ future making of the world and the technological systems associated with these

Risk perceptions of coffee growers in northern Thailand: a case study of Chiang Rai province

Title: Risk perceptions of coffee growers in northern Thailand: a case study of Chiang Rai province

Author: Melody Sie

Year: 2024

Keywords: Thai coffee agriculture risk perception agricultural livelihoods Thai farmers climate risks

Themes: Environmental Politics and Policy, Human development and Human security, Disaster and Crisis Management

Advisor(s): Jakkrit Sangkhamanee

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Thailand's coffee sector faces numerous risks, impacting coffee farmers' livelihoods. This study explores risk perception and management strategies through in-depth interviews with coffee farmers based in Chiang Rai province. Drawing from Joy Harwood’s categorization of agricultural risk, the risks assessed in this study fell under the domains of production, market, and institutional risks. Farmers' perceptions of these risks were analyzed by considering the mental strategies and biases (heuristics) that shaped their perceptions, as well as how farmers measured risk according to their risk attributes (frequency, severity, adaptation ability). The values, emotions, and experiences of farmers shape the foreground of farmers' mentality and priorities in judging risk, which in turn, affects how farmers respond when determining a risk's attributes. Such values included community engagement, quality, innovation, and sustainability. Farmers' responses to risk also demonstrated emotions of frustration, resilience, and happiness, reflecting the drivers for farmers in their approaches to farming and informing the amount of risk each farmer would take on based on the level of emotional attachment. Inconsistent rainfall was perceived to be the most anticipated risk regarding future occurrence and was also perceived as the risk with the most severe impact. On the other hand, farmers perceived barriers to market access as the risk with the greatest ability to adapt. Other risks such as knowledge barriers and limited agricultural expansion were also ranked among the risks with the most severe impact, revealing that the magnitude of risks span across risk domains, outside of just production risks. The findings of the study reveal the intricate relationship between emotional responses, personal experiences, initial exposures, and cultural values in shaping farmers' risk perceptions, and bring attention to the need for comprehensive support from government agencies to partner directly with farmers in order to secure the long-term sustainability for Thailand's coffee sector and the livelihoods of the farmers involved.

Crisis migration in sri lanka : Analyzing the governance of transnational actors in the context of war and financial crisis

Title: Crisis migration in sri lanka : Analyzing the governance of transnational actors in the context of war and financial crisis

Author: Dolewaththa Gamage Niruka Sanjeewani

Year: 2024

Keywords: Migration -- Sri Lanka, Financial planners, Atrocities -- Thailand

Themes: Migration, Disaster and Crisis Management, Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies, Development Management

Advisor(s): Bhanubhatra Jittiang

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Crisis migration has become a critical issue in Sri Lanka due to the war and ongoing financial crisis. Drawing from this understanding, the research investigates crisis migration in Sri Lanka through five distinct chapters. The first chapter offers an overview of the entire research. The second chapter examines the evolution of classical humanitarianism and its shift towards new humanitarianism in the context of war in Sri Lanka. It focuses primarily on Tamil refugees in India and their repatriations from India to Sri Lanka. The third chapter examines the transnational spaces of the Tamil diaspora. The chapter elaborates on their involvement in smuggling Tamil refugees to Canada. The fourth chapter discusses labour migration from Sri Lanka to Gulf Cooperation countries, namely Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, during the financial crisis of Sri Lanka. It identifies governance gaps related to trafficking in labour migration. The study is guided by two main questions: (1) How did crisis migrations in Sri Lanka emerge in response to the civil war and the financial crisis? (2) How has the Government of Sri Lanka responded to the involvement of transnational actors in governing crisis migration? The findings highlight the need for cooperation among the Government of Sri Lanka, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, and the International Labour Organization to govern crisis migration effectively. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used in the research to examine the questions

Diasporic identity and integration in transnational marriages between Thai and foreign spouses

Title: Diasporic identity and integration in transnational marriages between Thai and foreign spouses

Author: Caspar Darling

Year: 2024

Keywords: Thailand, integration, transnational thai marriage, social practices,, cultural awareness, religion, communication

Themes: Migration, Gender, Social Welfare

Advisor(s): Premjai Vungsriphisal, advisor, Supang Chantavanich, co-advisor

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of transnational Thai marriages in Thailand and what implications they have on the host society. The research objectives involved analyzing the social practices, level of integration, and social, economic, and political dimensions of this phenomenon. The methodology involved using census data and in-depth qualitative data based on 10 semi-structured interviews with foreign spouses in transnational Thai marriages based in Thailand. My findings revealed four key themes related to the research objectives. They were cultural awareness, the importance of communication, strength of relationship with the in-laws, and raising children. It was found that cultural awareness was the most important factor in increasing integration. An additional finding was that the religion of Buddhism was an appeal for several participants which also, in turn, helped to increase their cultural awareness and integration. The main argument from this paper appears to challenge a lot of the past research on this topic, and therefore offers a fresh perspective on transnational Thai marriages within the context of Thailand