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: Mr.Caspar Darling

Year: 2024

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

Theme: Social Welfare

Advisor(s): Premjai Vungsriphisal, advisorSupang 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

Toward decent work agenda: case study of domestic care workers in Thailand's care economy

Title: Toward decent work agenda: case study of domestic care workers in Thailand's care economy

Author: Miss Cholnapa Anukul

Year: 2019

Keywords: Aging Society, Decent Work, Care Worker, Care Work, Inequality

Theme: Social Welfare

Advisor(s): Surichai Wungaeo

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Ageing population is global phenomenon. As it causes deficit workforce and family structural change, more care job opportunities are provided. Nevertheless, global care workers are experiencing poor working conditions involving low wage, less social security and hard work. The purpose of this study is to investigate the causes of indecent work among paid domestic care workers in Thailand, with the aim to give voice and enhance visibility of them. Research methodology includes decent work related regulations and a set of care policies review and eight in-depth interviews of paid domestic care workers. Results are that (i) Thai regulations is inadequate to reward more decent work and unfriendly for representation of care workers. Care policies recognize the role of unpaid volunteer care work. (ii) All paid domestic care workers in this study experienced indecent working conditions and perceive care work as indecent work. Significant finding is that paid domestic care worker are trapped within indecent care work because of three factors, which are invisibility, structural inequality and cultural norms. Apart from changing legal framework, three interventions approaches are recommended: (i) making care work more visible; (ii) tackling inequality within care policies for all workers; and (iii) development of people’s decent work definition

Building community resilience through community based tourism in northern Thailand: the importance of social capital

Title: Building community resilience through community based tourism in northern Thailand: the importance of social capital

Author: Mr. Michael John Young

Year: 2019

Keywords: community resilience, resilience, social capital, community based tourism

Theme: Social Welfare

Advisor(s): Naruemon Thabchumpon

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Tourism has an omnipresence of application as a development tool, especially in rural areas within lesser developed countries. However, tourism development, particularly alternative forms of tourism such as Community Based Tourism (CBT) have and continue to face a multitude of barriers. As communities globally are facing greater uncertainties and stressors to local systems, it is imperative to build resilient communities. Thus, community resilience should not be taken as an end-goal, yet an iterative process for such to absorb, adapt and ultimately transform in the face of and after change. This research aims to offer a unique insight into how these concepts can not only explain the conditions of how Mae Kampong were able to transform and enhance resilience through CBT, but how the feedback of developing CBT has reinforced (positive and negative) nodes of social capital amongst the community. Based on an exploratory case-study approach of Mae Kampong in Northern Thailand, analysis was conducted utilizing data source triangulation, whereby a thorough contextual analysis of the community’s development of CBT was derived from semi-structured interviews with experts, local resident’s, external stakeholders (n=18) and complemented by desktop literary review. Interviews were conducted remotely via multichannel and telecommunication means, performed by the author and the aid of a research assistant, with analysis utilizing deductive and inductive thematic analysis. This research brings social capital and its domains to the fore of CBT development. Hence, the coupling of social capital with resilience thinking in the context of CBT forms as valuable lens and vehicle, addressing an overlooked research gap. Thus, the findings suggest the starting point of sustainable tourism development, including CBT, must first look at the local social assets, attributes and capabilities, forming the precursor to the effective implementation of CBT as a development tool that ultimately has the ability to enhance community resilience. Mae Kampong can then be considered a model CBT community, unlike what has been presented in the past