Title: A critique on creative economy as a potential tool for promotion of Thailand's sustainable development policy

Author: Miss Jiratchaya Kosintharanon

Year: 2023

Keywords: Sustainable Development, Creative Economy, Thailand

Theme: post development

Advisor(s): Balazs Szanto

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: As the world is full of threats, development seems to be an international issue where the state authority has to seek for the most effective solution and drive the development in the country. In Thailand, there is the urgent call to reposition Thailand among ASEAN countries as they used to be and become a developed and sustainable society. Creative economy uses as the potential tool to enhance the sustainable growth and development which also being a feasible option for country. With a diverse usage in the world, it is difficult to ensure the effectiveness after implementation in a country. To illustrate the potential of a creative economy and its effectiveness to achieve sustainable development, it needs to critique a core concept and shared characteristic of the creative economy which uses discourse analysis to conceal under a diverse interpretation by four countries as The United States, The United Kingdom, Japan, and The Republic of Korea to illustrate the ideal types of the creative economy. It will be further studied for a case study of Thailand’s creative economy. The findings reveal the potential of the creative economy to accomplish sustainable development in Thailand. Even though the concept of creative economy is being used diversely in the world, the core concept and expected outcome address it as the potential solution for the country to tackle the current situation and stimulate the growth and development with sustainability. However, there is an interesting argument by the end of this research to see whether the effectiveness of a creative economy to achieve sustainable development would present a progress to achieve the sustainable development of Thailand. Lastly, it could be answered why Thailand could not make great progress to achieve sustainable development for the country these days when there is the potential tool in country.

Title: Thailand as a performative state : An analysis of Thailand’s cultural diplomacy towards the people’s republic of China /

Author: Mr.Natdanai Kietigaroon

Year: 2020

Keywords: Chineseness, Performative State, Chinese communities, International, Relations, Cultural Diplomacy

Theme: post development

Advisor(s): Pongphisoot Busbarat

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Thailand as a performative state is a research that looked at the cultural dimensions of Thailand’s diplomacy, by taking the alternative view on Thai cultural diplomacy towards PRC. Thai cultural diplomacy, according to existing literature, revolves around promoting Thainess. However, in the case of China, Thailand has been using Chineseness as Thai cultural diplomacy. The research specifically looked at five Thai state actors that are most involved with Chineseness, namely, the royal family, the government, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Two questions were raised in this research. Firstly, how Chineseness is being used in Thai cultural diplomacy, where the research will lay out events, initiatives, speeches, etc. from the Thai state, that constitute as Chineseness. The research, then, categorizes how Chineseness is being promoted by the Thai State actors, by analyzing the initiatives as Old Chineseness as portrayed by Sampheng Chinese community or New Chineseness as portrayed by Huai Khwang Chinese community, two largest, yet, very distinctive Chinese communities in Bangkok. Findings show that Old Chineseness is portrayed more across all five Thai state actors.Consequently, the question of why does the Thai State use Sampheng Chineseness in Thai cultural diplomacy is asked, which will throw light on why the Old Chineseness, portrayed by old Chinese communities in Thailand like Sampheng, is still represented in Thai cultural diplomacy, even more than the new and modern-day Sino-centric Chineseness, that is more attached to the present-day PRC. The findings proved that Old Chineseness is used more because of the assimilated Sampheng Chinese community and how they have integrated into Thai society, Chinese state’s influence over Thai cultural diplomacy, and the royal family’s personal interests in Chineseness.