The focus of this study is to investigate changes induced by rapid tourism development in a Tai Yai village, Ban Sob Ruak (BSR), in the Golden Triangle of northern Thailand. From the geographical point of view, the transformation of the village can be regarded as a change of place, while from the sociological point of view, the transformation can be explained in the context of modernization. These two closely related aspects of change were examined in this study in the context of modernization theory and the concepts of Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft. The study gathered data through use of surveys, in-depth interviews, field checks, aerial photographs and consultative meetings. Three sets of structured questionnaires were developed for three surveys. Major findings of the study suggest that: (1) During a period of less than 10 years, tourism has contributed to significant changes in BSR in various areas: socio-economic, cultural, land ownership and use. For example, one quarter of residents had changed their main occupations from farming to tourism-related jobs, household income and land values, in particular, had considerably increased. The residents of BSR, in general, have a very positive perception towards tourism impacts. The study, however, recommended that the monitoring of residents' perceptions towards tourism development in BSR in the long term should be undertaken. After nearly a decade, drawbacks of tourism in the village have emerged in various forms, e.g. increased social differentiation and materialism, water and visual pollution, and increased exploitation of forest resources by the community. These drawbacks, if left unchecked, may affect residents' perceptions towards tourism impacts in the future. (2) Tourism-induced loss of control over local resources, especially land, has tended to increase social differentiation and depletion of forest resources by the community. (3) BSR residents have been tremendously successful in the business skills required to benefit from tourism development in spite of a lack of external support. (4) The residents of BSR have adjusted in two ways to cope with tourism development, revitalization and adoption. The study results also suggest that tourism seems capable of catalyzing the modernization process in host communities, especially in rural areas. In terms of tourism management, the study argues that a community approach to tourism planning may be promising for application in less developed countries. Government support, however, is likely to be necessary for this purpose. Finally, it is argued that tourism can be an effective tool for rural development. BSR is an example of unplanned tourism development without support from the government. Public participation, however, made the tourism industry a desirable alternative development strategy for the village. Serious attention from the government is imperative if tourism is to be a successful tool for rural development. / Graduate

The influence of the Tragedy of the Commons (Hardin, 1968) polarizes policy on common property resources into bimodal prescriptions--the state on the one hand and the market on the other. This study of community-based watershed management (CBWM) in Northern Thailand examines local institutions as an alternative to solve free rider problems in the commons. Four different communities--Ban Luang, Silalaeng, Thung Khao Hang, and Ban Pae--were selected for study. Field data was collected by participant observation, interview, and household survey. It was found that community-based watershed management originated from the need for water of the lowland rice farmers. This dependence on watersheds for a sustainable livelihood brought the peasants together to form CBWM institutions to regulate joint use, sustain yields, and exclude non-members. The emergence and continued strength of a CBWM system is closely associated with variables such as a small watershed, a small number of clearly-defined users, clearly-demarcated watershed boundaries, close proximity of the watershed to the village, moderately scarce watershed resources, and charismatic leaders. The definite geographical and social units of village community, dyadic relationships, and traditional reciprocities, when reinforced by norms, beliefs, and operational rules, are the foundation for cooperation and compliance with the rules by the majority of resource users. The villagers were highly satisfied with the efficiency and equity in resource use under the common property regime, as they evaluate the outcomes in terms of sustainable livelihood security rather than for short-term benefit. Minimal conflicts between de facto rights defined by local institutions and de jure rights defined by laws are also critical to institutional stability and help secure government recognition in CBWM. The incorporation of local communities into the larger political economic system and the penetration of the market economy into the rural areas have changed traditional reciprocities based on dyadic relationships. Thus, community-based watershed management systems have evolved through the development of collectively-organized rules to govern the use of scarce watershed resources. Over time, the operational rules of CBWM have become formal institutions as the village community is transformed into a territorial organization, eventually integrated into the mainstream society. This study demonstrates that there is an alternative to solve problems of the commons beyond the state and the market. Local institutional arrangements have been successful in managing several watersheds as the commons in Northern Thailand. It is suggested that co-management in the watersheds between the state and local communities is feasible in Northern Thailand. One potential strategy is to legalize CBWM institutions and empower the local communities to be able to manage their local watersheds effectively. / Graduate

ABSTRACT SELECTIVE MISSIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BUNKHUN FOR MINISTRY AMONG THE KHON MUANG Thomas Lowell Bohnert, Ph.D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2018 Chair: Dr. George H. Martin The purpose of this dissertation is to examine a socio-cultural barrier to the gospel among the Khon Muang of Northern Thailand. The thesis of this dissertation is that bunkhun is an essential cultural factor that missionaries must understand to build and maintain healthy relationships among the Khon Muang. Chapter 1 introduces the problem and the methodology for analyzing the problem was described. Chapter 2 contains an ethnographic description of the Khon Muang people along with an examined of the salient literature about bunkhun. The examination of the salient literature revealed that bunkhun relationships are established by two means: they are established either because a client recognizes the ascribed status of a patron, or because individual acts of graciousness overwhelm the client with gratitude. Chapter 3 examines the function of bunkhun among the Khon Muang. A matrix for characterizing bunkhun relationships was developed and presented. A theory for understanding bunkhun was described. Bunkhun is a cultural system that maintains social smoothing values and skills, reinforces traditional ideas about the ideal character qualities of both a patron and a client, and regulates the relationships between a patron and a client among the Khon Muang. Chapter 4 surveys the Bible to define and describe the patron titles of God. The obligations of the client were also presented. Finally, a short survey outlining the biblical concept of grace was detailed. Bunkhun has similarities to grace, but the two are different. Chapter 5 deals with several missiological implications of bunkhun. First, bunkhun is a form of patron-client system thus, it is incumbent upon missionaries to understand the cultural context so that clear communication occurs. Second, honor and shame themes are embedded in the bunkhun system. Learning to utilize skills good intercultural communications skills is necessary for missionaries serving in Northern Thailand. Finally, several suggestions were offered to address implications related to evangelism, discipleship, fellowship and leadership development. These thoughts are all offered tentatively as more research is needed to verify their veracity. Chapter 6 provides an overall summary for the project.

Objectives: The aim of this project was to examine tuberculosis (TB) treatment access among migrant and refugee populations in a Thai border province. To study TB control from a wider perspective, we also sought to understand how migrant and refugee cases are enumerated in the public health surveillance system and explored treatment providers’ responsiveness to treatment barriers. Methods: We used a concurrent mix-methods design with an overarching qualitative emphasis and an embedded smaller quantitative survey. To gain perspectives on treatment accessibility we conducted focus group discussions with TB, tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection (TB/HIV) and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients. We also held key informant interviews with TB treatment providers and public health officials in Tak province and did a survey of community health volunteers. We analyzed the data using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: We found that migrants are travelling long distances with active TB to seek treatment in Tak province and that legal status influences migrants’ eligibility for TB care. Migrants in our study reported more barriers to accessing TB treatment than refugees. TB/HIV and MDR-TB treatment options for migrants in Tak province are limited and are heavily reliant on donor funding. We found that migrant and refugee TB cases are under reported in the public health surveillance system. Organizations in Tak province are highly collaborative and we identified two NGOs who have developed programs that are responsive to migrants’ needs. Conclusions: Our research suggests that in Tak province, Thailand access to TB treatment occurs at the intersection of health system accessibility, population ability and legal status. Interventions to improve treatment access and adherence to TB treatment necessarily extend outside of the healthcare system and address the social determinants of health.

Ueda Yoko. Local economy and entrepreneurship in Thailand : a case study of Nakhon Ratchasima. Kyoto University Press. 1995, 158p. / 京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(経済学) / 乙第9679号 / 論経博第214号 / 新制||経||126(附属図書館) / UT51-97-W238 / (主査)教授 渡邉 尚, 教授 今久保 幸生, 教授 上原 一慶 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Economics / Kyoto University / DFAM

This study investigated what constitutes a moral development program in Buddhist temple preschools in Thailand. The researcher employed three qualitative methods: structured, in-depth interviews, observations of teachers' instruction, and document analysis of curriculum guides. Four Buddhist temple preschools were selected as the sites. Participants for interview included three abbots and one head nun, four principals, and twelve teachers. Participants for observations included four teachers of third year classes in each preschool. The study concentrated on four research questions: (a) what are the elements of the character education curriculum? (b) How do teachers teach moral development concepts and skills? (c) What are the teachers' perceptions of the moral development of third year preschoolers? (d) How do teachers assess their pupils' moral development? Key findings for the research questions were: character education was not a subject in the National Preschool Curriculum which was implemented in the Buddhist temple preschools. Core morality was integrated into every topic. The moral behaviors emphasized in the curriculum and the lesson plans included discipline, mindfulness, kindness, helpfulness, patience, honesty, respect, thriftiness, and politeness. The Buddhist concept of the process of moral development includes character education and meditation. The preschoolers were trained to pay respect to teachers and parents as an obedience approach to character education. Preparation of teachers included screening for their values and pre-service training. The instruction of meditation was approached gradually and aroused the children's interest. After three years of schooling, the third year preschoolers were well-behaved, helpful, and kind; no aggressive behaviors were reported. The assessment of moral development of preschoolers was based on observation of the teachers throughout the school year. Implications for practice are discussed, including procedures for gathering information on beliefs, attitudes, and culture of the parents before implementation of different models of moral development. Finally, future research directions are proposed.

This study takes a look at government aid to agriculture in Thailand and attempts to analyze its effectiveness. Only two crops have been aided directly by the government, rice and rubber, though others have undoubtedly benefitted by improvements in the country's infrastructure. The regressions performed on some simple production functions indicate that rice yields have been improved through government programs. The program for rubber largely a subsidy for new plantings, ha as yet not had much impact on yields. This maybe due to the fact that the pay-off period is at least seven years. There is also some evidence that maize yields have improved through the opening of new lands by highway and rail. The rest of agriculture in Thailand still largely relies on nature and the Gods to determine output. It may well be true for a change.

The expansion of international trade, according to the traditional trade theory, can be the escape passage from economic stagnation. Furthermore, it will result in specialization within a country and increasing efficiency of production and real income. The concept and measurement of economic growth are explored. Also the importance of international trade for a small nation is studied. The author traced the structure and trends of world trade, which are contributed to economic growth in the past. Then studied the structure and pattern of international trade of Thailand. The growth in Thailand's participation in world trade is significant, but the rate of growth in production and income are among the low level. In recent years, the government of Thailand introduced the economic development plan with a basic aim to stimulate economic growth and to raise the income per capita among its people. The findings agree with Prebisch proposal that the growth in underdeveloped countries must be promoted by domestic industrialization. And the application of traditional trade theory into the underdeveloped countries and into the world of today is questionable.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston University

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