A Grieving Nation: Exploring Thainess in the Space of Emotion

The passing of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej on October 13, 2016 marked a significant turning point in modern Thai history. As the world’s longest-reigning monarch, King Bhumibol had been much loved and revered as the country’s father figure for 70 years. In the wake of his demise, it seemed to be that every corner of Thailand was packed with emotions that also came with an array of cultural implications for what it means to be Thai. Through an ethnographic study of the unique emotional phenomenon, this thesis aims to explore how grief in Thailand’s post-King Bhumibol era manifested in terms of spatiality, as well as and how it was culturally constructed. Ultimately, this thesis argues that how the nationwide mourning was practiced had engendered a space for mourners to perform Thainess–an umbrella term for good citizenship and Thai national identity. Apart from a cultural analysis, this thesis shall contribute to the interdisciplinary fields of ethnography, political science, Southeast Asian studies, and Thai studies, as it navigates the uncharted territory of understanding Thainess and the monarchy by taking into account the people’s perspective

Disguised Foreign Controlled Companies and the Facilitation of Transnational Criminal Activities in Thailand

The primary objectives of the study are to examine the role of a business using Thai nationals as nominee shareholders in foreign-controlled companies in the facilitation of the transnational criminal groups’ activities in the tourist destinations, and their social and economic impacts on the country. Nominee shareholder appointment in a legal entity has commonly been recognized as one of the techniques employed by criminal groups to launder and obscure the ownership of their illegal assets. However, this study points out that this type of company also performs other functions in providing resources and a platform for criminal groups to further their goals. The study used mixed methods by gathering qualitative data through conducting in-depth interviews and focus groups with 55 participants from relevant government agencies and private sectors, and by gathering quantitative data through conducting public surveys consisting of 1,160 participants from six provinces across five different regions in Thailand. The study concluded that there is a strong need for the country to improve monitoring mechanisms through legal changes, and collaborations among public, private and civil society as the practice of nominee shareholder appointment, although perceived as a normal practice in the global field of business, such a practice can invite unintended consequences, which can be a serious cause of concern due to the links with illegal activities operated under the umbrella of transnational organized crime

Der informelle Sektor in der Tourismuswirtschaft Thailands

Der internationale Tourismus in Thailand hatte seinen Durchbruch erst in den 1960er-Jahren mit der Etablierung der sogenannten „Rest and Recreation“-Programme für die im Zuge des Vietnamkriegs in Südostasien stationierten US-amerikanischen GIs. Seitdem entwickelte sich dieser Wirtschaftssektor rapide und ist aus der thailändischen Wirtschaft nicht mehr wegzudenken. Zu Beginn des neuen Jahrtausends entfielen auf den Tourismusbereich etwa elf Prozent aller Arbeitsplätze und er wies einen Anteil von 11,4 Prozent am Bruttoinlandsprodukt auf. Mit der Bedeutung der Branche stieg auch die Zahl jener, die am Erfolg des Tourismus mitpartizipieren und sich ihren Lebensunterhalt in diesem Sektor sichern wollen. Da in Thailand ein erheblicher Anteil von über 50 Prozent der Beschäftigten dem informellen Sektor zuzurechnen ist, stellt der Tourismus auch für diesen Zweig der Wirtschaft eine wichtige Verdienstquelle dar. Am Beispiel eines der touristischen Hauptzielgebiete Thailands – dem Ort Patong auf der Insel Phuket – soll gezeigt werden, welche Personengruppen in diesem ungeregelten, meist unterbezahlten Sektor beschäftigt sind und welche Tätigkeiten durch sie abgedeckt beziehungsweise mitabgedeckt werden und an welchen bevorzugten (Stand-)Orten dies geschieht. Ebenso soll untersucht werden, ob die Entwicklung des touristisch informellen Sektors bestimmten Zyklen folgt und die Funktionsweisen und Netzwerke desselben erläutert werden.International tourism in Thailand emerged not earlier than in the 1960ies when the “Rest and Recreation”-programmes for US GIs who had been based in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War took place. Since that time the tourism sector experienced a rapid growth and has become a vital part of the Thai economy. At the beginning of the new millennium eleven per cent of all jobs were tourism-related and the tourism sector counted for 11.4 per cent of the GDP. Thus, with the importance of the sector the number of people who try to participate in the success and earn their living in tourism increased. As in Thailand more than 50 per cent of all employed persons belong to the informal sector, tourism is an important source of income for the informal economy as well. Patong which is one of the main tourist destinations within Thailand serves as a case study. It should be analyzed who finds employment in this unregulated and mostly underpaid sector, which activities are covered and which are the preferred locations for these actions. Special emphasis is put on operation and networks of the tourism-related informal sector as well as on the question whether its development follows special patterns

MOVING BEYOND THE SENSATIONALIZED: A MIXED METHODS APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING SEX TRAFFICKING NEWS COVERAGE IN THAILAND

Human rights violations regularly occur around the globe, sometimes attracting local and international media attention. Such coverage is often criticized for sensationalizing or over-simplifying the issue(s). However, little research has analyzed media representations of such issues, so it is difficult to speak to the validity of those criticisms. This dissertation used news coverage of sex trafficking as a window into how English-language news media in Thailand, a geographic region with an understudied media landscape, represent human rights abuses and frame social problems. By using a mixed methods approach, this study quantified the framing of news coverage with a content analysis and utilized in-depth qualitative interviews with journalists, anti-trafficking advocates, survivors of sex trafficking and consensual sex workers to understand why coverage looks the way(s) that it does and how anti-trafficking advocates can act as media advocates to push coverage in new directions. Findings from this research revealed that the majority of sex trafficking articles were crime-related news stories that focused on trafficked women and children and lacked discussions of risk factors and social status/race indicators such as statelessness. Results also demonstrated that sex trafficking was largely reported on in relation to other countries, yet primarily cited official sources from within Thailand. Victims’ voices were generally absent as were remedies that might help bring an end to trafficking. The interviews revealed a deep contention among respondents regarding the definition of sex trafficking and very unclear notions of choice as a result of social and familial obligations. Additionally, findings demonstrated a tense relationship between journalists and advocates – which resulted in a phenomenon that I termed ‘protective attention directing’ – as well as a similarly adversarial relationship between the Thai police/government and the press, both of which impact coverage of sex trafficking. While this study demonstrated areas in which coverage could be improved and relationships could be strengthened, reporting on sex trafficking is not a static phenomenon; rather, it can be continually reshaped. With effort taken by all parties, it is possible to see news coverage created within journalists’ limitations that is respectful to victims and representative of the complexities of the issue.Doctor of Philosoph

CCU Newsletter, January 24, 2005

A newsletter for faculty, staff and friends of Coastal Carolina University. Volume 15, Number 2https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ccu-newsletter/1103/thumbnail.jp

Economic change in the Pattani region, c. 1880-1930: Tin and cattle in the era of Siam's administrative reforms

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Smart Cities in Asia

This open access book examines different aspects of smart cities, including technology, urban development, sustainable development, finance, and privacy and data protection. It also covers a wide range of jurisdictions in Asia-Pacific: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The book consists of two main parts. The first part includes general chapters that conceptualize smart cities and provide an overview of these cities’ problems such as privacy and data protection concern. The general chapters also discuss the role of public and private sectors in developing and governing smart cities. The second part encompasses country-specific chapters that examine the concepts addressed in the general chapters in practice by analyzing several specific smart city projects. This book provides researchers and practitioners with some knowledge of a smart city and its implication in the Asia context. The book is designed with some general chapters updating the literature on smart cities for readers who are interested in an overview of this concept. Audiences who are curious about how smart cities are perceived and implemented in some Asian jurisdictions are benefited from country-specific chapters. The book is also helpful to general audiences whose interests lay at the intersection of law, governance, and technology

Marine turtle population and conservation in the Southeast Asia Region

The objective of this paper is to provide a brief review of biology and population status of sea turtles in the Southeast Asia Region. The report was compiled after a reassessment of the scientific literature on this region, including government documents and materials assembled by various organizations. Six major topics are reviewed: 1) biology; 2) population and distribution; 3) existing laws on sea turtles conservations: 4) conservation efforts /activities; 5) research activities; 6) regional collaborations