Ethnic groups in Thailand - A study of minority groups within the Thai nation state involving ethnic Chinese, Muslims and Highland Peoples

Seminar Paper , 2004 , 21 Pages , Grade: 1

Ethnology / Cultural Anthropology

I am writing this paper on the Thai nation state and its minorities as a student of political sciences as well as social and cultural anthropology, educated at the University of Vienna. Through a short period I had the chance to study Thai culture in the country itself but this is not given me enough proficiency to judge the same. On my research I rely on scholars which have had wide range of vast experiences with the country, nevertheless I try to implement my own experiences in a, as far as it is possible, objective way.
Since 1939 Thailand exists, but only the name itself appeared then as Siam, its former name was known already hundreds of year, back to its traditional founding date in 1238 (CIA Factbook, Winichakul 1994:150). The difference between Siam and Thailand is the form of its organization, as Siam was always a monarchy ruled by an absolute monarch. Only 1932 this absolute monarchy became history and a new form of state was born. From there on we speak of Thailand – a modern nation state (McCargo 2000). As Thongchai Winichakul writes was this change a political act of a chauvinist regime to promote the domination of the ethnic Thai and their culture over others. The Thai government under Phibun (1939-1944) had adopted to fascism, which was a global current during this time, they promoted the notion of the great Thai race and their territory (Winichakul 1994:18,150).
The following paper is going to deal with this concept of the Thai state during the major part of the last century, describing the challenges the western concept brought with it, especially in terms of ethnicity. Thailand was formed with nationalistic ideas, in a territorial as well as an ethnic way, whereas the latter was natural due to the fact that, as nowadays, 95% of the Thai citizens define themselves as ethnic Thai’s – including Isarn and Lanna (see 2.3). At the beginning of the nation this did not look as clear as it seams. As a part of the heterogeneous South East Asia also the territory of Thailand is inhabited by a wide ethnic divergence. Thailand itself brought many Chinese immigrants into the country, as workers adding to their economic boom. Where are they now? And much more interesting what are they now?

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• INTRODUCTION
• THE THAI NATION STATE
  • Coming into existence— The Thai society
  • Ethnic Thais and others
• ETHNIC MINORITIES
  • Ethnic Chinese
    • History
  • Muslims in Thailand
  • Highland Peoples
• CONCLUSIONS
• LITERATURE

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht die ethnischen Minderheiten im thailändischen Nationalstaat und analysiert ihre Behandlung, Reaktionen und Integration in den Kontext der staatlichen Entwicklung. Dabei werden die Herausforderungen beleuchtet, die das westliche Konzept des Nationalstaates mit sich brachte, insbesondere in Bezug auf die ethnische Vielfalt Thailands.

• Die Entstehung des thailändischen Nationalstaates und seine ethnische Zusammensetzung
• Die Behandlung ethnischer Minderheiten durch den thailändischen Staat
• Die Integration von Minderheiten in die thailändische Gesellschaft
• Die Rolle von Religion und Kultur in der nationalen Identität
• Die Herausforderungen der ethnischen Diversität in Thailand

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

Das erste Kapitel führt in die Thematik ein und stellt den Kontext der Arbeit dar. Es beleuchtet die historische Entwicklung des thailändischen Nationalstaates und die Herausforderungen, die sich aus der ethnischen Diversität des Landes ergeben.

Das zweite Kapitel analysiert den thailändischen Nationalstaat im Detail. Es befasst sich mit der Entstehung der thailändischen Gesellschaft und der Rolle von Familie, Religion und Kultur in der nationalen Identität.

Das dritte Kapitel widmet sich den ethnischen Minderheiten in Thailand. Es untersucht die Geschichte der chinesischen Minderheit, die Integration der muslimischen Bevölkerung im Süden und die Herausforderungen der Highland Peoples im Norden des Landes.

Schlüsselwörter

Die Schlüsselwörter und Schwerpunktthemen des Textes umfassen den thailändischen Nationalstaat, ethnische Minderheiten, Integration, nationale Identität, Kultur, Religion, Geschichte, Politik, Gesellschaft, Highland Peoples, Chinesen, Muslime, Thailand, Südostasien.

• College: University of Vienna (Calpoly Thai Study Program 2004)
• Grade: 1
• Author: Sabine Putzgruber (Author)
• Publication Year: 2004
• Pages: 21
• Catalog Number: V56019
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638508254
• ISBN (Book): 9783656790037
• Language: English
• Tags: Ethnic, Thailand, Thai, Chinese, Muslims, Highland, Peoples