'Sustainable development' : law, the environment and water resources in modern Thailand

The overall purpose of this thesis is to examine problems concerning implementation of the concept of sustainable development in the area of water resources using Thailand as a case study of a developing country. The aims and objectives of the thesis are to provide an analysis of water case studies focusing on fieldwork undertaken in different regions in Thailand, an analysis of the legal system; and strategies for environmental protection; considered in the context of rapid economic expansion. The thesis begins with an examination of the foundation and background of Thailand's legal system, its economic development and its environment. Particular emphasis is given in the thesis to water resources. Water is a specific medium to judge pollution standards as a whole. Pollution for land and air often eventually makes it way into water system. Water regulation and pollution control is an example of environmental regulation as a whole. This is followed by an analysis and evaluation of the legal framework of environmental law. The aim is to examine the evolution of the legal protection of the environment in Thailand as well as to analyse the existing contradictions between the country's legal order and its actual environmental problems. The dynamics of the country's political process are then considered. Finally, the question of how the concept of sustainable development might assist in the application of environmental protection to water resources in Thailand is examined, using disputes over water allocation and water pollution. The case studies are drawn from different regions in Thailand. In Thailand there has certainly been more environmental awareness in recent years, but the implementation of sustainable development strategies remains at an early stage, despite, the Rio conference in 1992 and Rio II in 1997 emphasising the conservation of natural resources. The concept of sustainable development is also incorporated in the new Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act 1992 (the 1992 Act), despite to a limited extent, some principles for sustainable development such as the precautionary principle, the PPP, EIA, right of access to environmental information and public participation. In Thailand primary legislation is in place but water resources regulations are required. Thailand is on a slow learning curve in its strategies for protecting the environment. In the thesis, case studies at a local level have been undertaken and through these case studies, it is clear that sustainable development concept is not fully integrated and accepted as a way to solve water problems at a local level. This indicates a failure of western concepts and their adaptation in developing countries such as Thailand. However, traditional approaches may be used to improve and promote sustainable development concepts together with Agenda 21, western approaches and experiences, which is called "The Mixed Approach". Thailand is in the advantageous position of being able to learn from the mistakes and environmental failures of the developed countries with respect to water resources policy. At the very least, it must acknowledge that environmental problems cannot be fundamentally solved without addressing them at the time of economic development. Still further, Thailand must not adopt the model of western environmental protection laws without first ensuring that the new reforms are suitable for the needs of the Thai economy and people

Factors in the non-recognition of overseas qualifications: The case of medical practitioners

The overseas qualified doctor is a potential threat to the state-sanctioned control practising doctors have over medical knowledge in Australia. The nonrecognition of qualifications of many migrant and refugee doctors, in particular from non-English speaking background (NESB) countries, presses them into a subordinate relationship lo that of registered practitioners. The ownership of medical knowledge is limited lo state-recognised practitioners, thus allowing them to maintain significant economic and social advantage within the general community. The relationship between qualified practitioners and the state is indicative of a particular dynamic in which some individuals are able to exclude others by mechanisms of social closure from membership of, or entry to, positions of relative status and economic advantage. Each state in Australia has different restrictions as to who are to be excluded. Currently in Australia, the relationship between registered practitioners and the state from which they receive legitimacy may be described by the \u27professional administrative\u27 model in which the medical profession maintain control over entry into their domain. This is in contradistinction to the \u27national health\u27 model where medical practice plays an important, but not a dominant role. The difficulties many migrant doctors face in gaining recognition is indicative of the tension between these two models. The issue is not one of medical practice, but one of control over administration. This thesis examines the tension and the underlying ideological and philosophical bases of these two models, in the light of data related to non-recognition of qualifications of overseas trained practitioners and concludes that the mechanisms of the process outlined must be resisted in the interests of the health and well-being of a multicultural community

Internationalising Thai higher education : examining policy implementation

This thesis examines the implementation of the policy of internationalising higher education in Thailand during a period marked by global and national liberalisation and by transition and reform. The main research question is: to what extent has the Thai state's policy of internationalising higher education been implemented? The thesis reviews two main bodies of literature to answer this question, examining them in the Thai context. First, studies of the internationalisation of higher education are reviewed in order to provide the background to current debates and to frame a set of ideal goals for the internationalisation of higher education in Thailand. Second, studies on the higher education system and the policy implementation process are used to investigate the Thai higher education system's policy implementation process. The thesis centres on two main case studies reflecting the two primary functions of universities: teaching and research. The first study relates to the teaching of commercial and business administration courses in international programmes. The second study relates specifically to internationalised scientific research. The thesis argues that Thai higher education is in a dilemma: it must implement successful internationalisation and reform its structure and social values, particularly in order to accommodate new ideas driven by market forces. Yet, it is prevented because the bureaucratic structure and values of the 'state authority' and the public universities prevail, while the market pressurises each institution and individual to pursue their self-interests. As a result, qualitative internationalisation is difficult to put into practice. The original contribution of this thesis is not only the empirical data gathered during intensive fieldwork, but also an attempt to analyse the internationalisation of Thai higher education by examining the country's higher education system and its policy implementation process. Previous studies on the internationalisation of higher education have mostly focused on the developed world, and those focusing on developing countries have not particularly considered the problems related to national higher education systems and policy implementation processes. This study not only considers the duties and functions of particular universities; it also places the internationalisation of the Thai higher education system in its macro-political and socio-economic context, and thus is able to explore and explain the fundamental problems affecting the policy implementation process

Tourism development in less developed countries.

The United Nations Research Institute of Social Development (UNIRSD) published a monograph after their workshop in Geneva 1994 on the development of Cambodia. Among the various issues the workshop revealed the pressing need for research regarding the post-conflict economic strategy, the socio-psychological effects of the war, appropriate forms of foreign aid and delivery mechanisms, and the roles and responsibilities of different types of local, national and international institutions involved in processes of rehabilitation and reconstruction. In response to this fundamental quest for knowledge, this study is designed to investigate the development of tourism in the war-tom Cambodian economy in the mist of poverty and social problems. International intervention and assistance, the role of government and the Third Sector!, and community participation are key embedded units for the study. The thesis also intended to examine the appropriateness of the approaches employed by the government and international aid in promoting tourism. Although this thesis focused on Cambodia, findings and discussions are highly relevant to other less developed countries (LDCs), especially those having a background of war and/or civil turmoil. The thesis also addresses questions related to tourism as a development agent for economic growth, social rehabilitation and political development. For example: • How can tourism serve to reactivate processes of economic growth and social development without seriously affecting the allocation of resources and current structure of the economy? • How can tourism development be activated given the contextual limitations? • Why should government intervene in the development process and how does one ensure the results will be accomplished with minimal disturbance to the social system? • What kind of new social problem(s) and/or distortions in the economy, if any, have been induced by tourism and/or the liberalization of the economy? The delimitation of the study to tourism is for practical reasons. On the one hand, it is impossible to investigate the situation in Cambodia and make meaningful recommendations without refining the scope of study. Tourism, on the other hand, is the world's largest single industry and one on which many countries have pinned their hopes. It is renowned for its ability to generate income, to attract foreign investment, to create employment and as some including the World Tourism Organization and the Pope John Paul II even argue for its capability to promote peace2. This thesis developed a tourism system model by theoretical induction making use of Cambodia as the subject of study. The ultimate vision of the study is to enhance the body of knowledge and thus to capitalize tourism as a development agent for the rehabilitation of a war-tom economy and social institutions to fight both poverty and marginalization. The findings of the study revealed the most current situation in Cambodia by applying the model of the tourism system and the model for tourism development proposed. The proposition that free-market capitalism might not work for less developed countries was tested and proved to be valid. This thesis revealed the barriers and potential of tourism as a development agent for LDC by using Cambodia as the subject for investigation. Specific recommendations were given. Although it might seem controversial given the difficulties as illustrated in the analysis, Cambodia has very limited option for development. The thesis also argued that many obstacles in the development are administrative. Once the problems were addressed, a significant increase in demand can be expected. This study attempts to provide answers to developmental questions. However, more questions and gaps in knowledge emerged in the process of the study. This study, as originally designed, is not an end in itself but a stepping-stone to further studies. To conclude, allow me to cite the words of Joan Healy, Overseas Service Bureau Australia, "to understand the meaning of this time we do well to see it through the experiences and aspirations of ordinary Cambodians. Then our questions change. We ask about ways they see to ease suffering and contribute to peace. We face the fact that we do not know so many answers

The Political Economy of Thailand's International Trade Negotiations: Some Multilateral and Bilateral Issues.

This thesis examines Thailand's international trade negotiations, using a political economy framework. It concentrates on the country's multilateral negotiations in the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and bilateral negotiations with the United States on intellectual property protection. The objectives of this thesis are to analyse the role of the Thai private sector and the autonomy of the Thai government in the process of these negotiations. This study argues that, apart from the public sector, the Thai private sector also plays an important role in the country's trade negotiations. However, the level of its participation varies from one negotiating framework to another. Bilateral negotiations tend to draw more attention from the private sector, because they have more direct impact on individual businesses. This is a result of the high concentration of interest caused by the small number of negotiating issues and people involved in these negotiations. In the country's bilateral negotiations with the United States, Thailand's private sector actively engaged in the negotiating process through various kinds of lobbying activities. The Thai government had to respond to these activities and compromise interests among different groups. In contrast, the role of Thai private enterprises in the Uruguay Round negotiations was rather limited. This provided the Thai government with autonomy in formulating the country's negotiating positions and in implementing Uruguay Round commitments. This resulted in a higher degree of autonomy for the government in the Uruguay Round negotiations, compared with bilateral negotiations with the United States. Thailand's Uruguay Round negotiations and its bilateral negotiations with the United States carry some implications, both for government policy and agencies as well as for their relationship with private businesses. There have already been a number of changes not only in the Thai bureaucratic system but also in the general public's opinion regarding trade negotiations. Nevertheless, to improve the capability of Thai government officials in the negotiating process and to promote national interests, some further changes are still necessary

Adult education programmes for women in rural Thailand : with special reference to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Interior and the National Council of Women

This research investigates adult education programmes for women in rural Thailand, provided by the Ministries of Education, and the Interior, and the National Council of Women.Chapter I presents findings which show that there is a higher percentage of women than men illiterates: that more men than women enrol in elementary and secondary education, but that almost equal numbers enrol in universities. The evidence shows that women's traditional occupations determine their choice of subjects of study.Chapter II discusses the development of adult education, describing its aims and philosophy, the 1940 Act of Compulsory Literacy, the structure of the Adult Education Division and the establishment of adult education centres.Chapter III analyzes the special educational needs of rural women against the socio-economic backgrounds. Village women are interested in improving the quality of their own and their families' lives; and their ability to earn. Their special learning needs are for dressmaking, livestock product, arable farming, small business activities, domestic skills and general adult education.Chapters IV, V and VI discuss the information obtained from field surveys of educational programmes for rural women in the North and the Northeast. It is shown that the Adult Education Division provides general adult education, functional literacy and family life planning programmes, newspaper reading centres, leadership training and mobile vocational training. The Ministry of the Interior stresses training for leadership, for small trades and co-operatives in home economics, weaving, child care and arable farming. The National Council of Women concentrates on vocational skill and leadership training.Chapter VII discusses the place of the mass media in adult education, including educational radio programmes. It shows that rural women are very interested in music, drama, current news and family improvement.Chapter VIII summarizes the research and suggests that educational programmes for Thai rural women could be improved by drawing on the experience of other countries with similar problems

Telecommunications reform programme of Thailand: institutionalism and the reform process

The thesis presents an empirical study of the telecommunications reform experience of Thailand between the mid 1980s and 2000s in an attempt to explain the effect of national institutional arrangements upon the reform process. This time period permits an exploration of the development of the reform as well as its major impediments in relation to three different political settings. The progress of reform on the three basic reform issues (privatisation, liberalisation, and regulation) is thoroughly examined to understand the consequences produced by different industry environments. An historical institutionalist study of the Thai experience identifies the political tensions among the reform's interested parties as well as the unwieldy political settings that were the dominant features that heavily influenced the reform story. The thesis places a special emphasis on the latest political regime (the hegemonic era) since it provided a different industry outlook compared to the previous two regimes (the bureaucratic and pluralistic eras), allowing substantial progress towards reform to be made. The telecommunications reform in Thailand is not complete. Thus, it may be too early to confirm the advantage of the strong politics on the reform in the long run, especially considering the possibilities of rent-seeking or the overuse of political power of the hegemonic govenunent. In any case, the Thai reform experience confirms that an institutionalist framework is helpful, and that institutional arrangements really matter in the policy-formation, policy-implementation and policy-outcome of a particular country

Universal Access to Antiretroviral Therapy in Thailand: An Analysis of the Policy Process

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is effective in reducing HIV morbidity and mortality as well as improving patients' quality of life. However, because of several hurdles, resource-poor countries have provided treatment to only a few people in need. Thailand is unusual in having opted to offer universal coverage for therapy. This thesis aims to understand the process by which ART reached the Thai Government agenda, and to explore the lessons learned from the design and implementation of the publicly-organised treatment programme. This study suggests that Thailand's ART programme was influenced by the networks and learning of several actors which evolved over time. During a period of policy continuity between 1992 and 2000, the policy process developed within a relatively closed subsystem dominated by health officials in the Disease Control Department and HIV experts. The cost of antiretrovirals was the major factor restraining treatment coverage. The dramatic shift in ART service towards universal access took place in 2001, as a consequence of drug price reduction and political transformation that allowed participation of new Health Minister, health financing reformists, and an alliance of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Apparently, local and external treatment experiences inspired these actors to pursue similar paths in Thailand. The rapid policy formulation process was facilitated by common interests, shared experience, previously established collaboration, as well as awareness of interdependency among members of the Ministry of Public Health's Technical and Administration Panels. Learning about the intricacy in ART administration, especially from existing programmes and research studies in the country, played a crucial role in devising treatment expansion plans. The individual expertise of clinical specialists, researchers, health officials, NGOs and PL WHA helped to accelerate lesson drawing from policy feedback, anticipating future obstacles and selecting appropriate policy options. At the sub-national level, the process by which the universal ART policy was translated into action involved another set of actors, comprising hospital administrators, health professionals, officials in the Health Ministry's Regional and Provincial Offices, local NGOs and PLWHA groups. A key feature of policy in this phase was that the front-line workforce struggled to carry out the tasks prescribed by national policy makers. The discrepancy between the programme's expectation and actual therapy delivered in two study provinces was significant, resulting from insufficient number of experienced health personnel, increased workload as an effect of parallel reforms in the health and public administration systems, and stigma attached to HIV. To counter these impediments, treatment execution networks of government staff and civic groups were instigated. Collective learning among service providers, supporters and clients had an important role in ART scaling up. Different coping strategies were implemented in study hospitals, aiming to balance the contradictory goals of achieving the allocated targets while maintaining treatment quality. This thesis demonstrates that to understand policy development in such a complex circumstance governments cannot unilaterally deal with particular problems. Employing a policy network concept to address the partnership between state and non-state actors is not only useful but essential as the policy environment has expanded beyond merely state actions, to depend, to some extent, on non-state actors. Moreover, the integration of policy learning model into policy analysis framework can provide insights into the increasingly dynamic interactions between actors, context and processes of public policy in focus