Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Studies

From the state’s development promise to the uncertain lives of farmers in eastern Thailand

Kampanart Benjanavee — 2024-09-23

This research paper aims to examine the state's development promise in relation to the Eastern Economic Corridor development (EEC) project and its impact on people's livelihoods. The study utilized a qualitative approach and ethnographic research to collect data on the operation of the EEC project and its impact on people's livelihoods. The key informants, who were actively involved in the movement for farm safety, were 25 farmers from a farmers network in Kabinburi district, Prachinburi province, and Phanom Sarakham district, Chachoengsao province. The study found that the EEC project has been a crucial development undertaking in Thailand since 2017. The Thai state has promised that the EEC project will provide a better future for the people, stating that the operation of the project will focus on investing in infrastructure, providing investment privileges, eliminating investment barriers, and establishing a centralized authority. However, the local people's experiences with the EEC project demonstrate the formation of unequal power relations that have led to an uneven distribution of the project's benefits. Although local communities are hopeful that the EEC project will provide access to new markets, they still fear the uncertainty of their lives due to various state mechanisms established in the project, which prevent them from participating in the local decision-making process. Some local farmers have experienced an expansion of factories and waste disposal plants, causing fear of pollution on farms, and other non-agricultural land use activities in the EEC backyard, or peripheral areas of the EEC project.

Conservative Muslim and textual interpretation of the hadiths in polygamy propaganda in Indonesia

Nikmatullah Nikmatullah — 2024-09-23

The pro-polygamy movement in Indonesia demonstrates not only Islamic doctrine and identity but also the rise of conservative Islam which is legitimized by an understanding of particular hadiths. This article aims to describe polygamy propaganda carried out by conservative Muslim groups on social media which is based on a literal textual understanding of religious texts. This qualitative research used gender analysis to investigate male dominance in polygamous propaganda employing hadith to recruit polygamous class participants. Data for the study were gathered from social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube) as well as online news about polygamy mentoring programs. The polygamous traditions employed by two mentorship communities in Indonesia such as Dauroh Poligami Indonesia (DPI) and Forum Poligami Indonesia (FPI), were used in this study. Polygamy traditions have been selected and interpreted to support polygamy, viewed as mandatory for men, with conservative narratives that support the propaganda of how to marry four wives. It is regarded as a symbol of individual piety and an Islamic lifestyle, inextricably linked to the materialization of religion, which provides polygamy with social and spiritual bliss. Therefore, polygamy propaganda initiated debate among Muslim feminist movements to advocate for gender equality and women's empowerment in modern Indonesia.

Exploring the connectedness of the aspects of Thai KFL learners’ phonological awareness, orthographic awareness, and pronunciation production

Chun-Ye Kim — 2024-09-27

This study aimed to explore how the aspects of Thai KFL (Korean as a foreign language) learners’ (beginner-level, 79 persons) Phonological Awareness (PA), Orthographic Awareness (OA), and Pronunciation Production (PP) are connected in terms of L1 interference. To investigate the aspects of these three realms, PA and OA tasks, which were modified from the previous study, were implemented for the learners, and the data on PP was collected from oral tests. The format of PA and OA tasks was developed in three domains for each: PA items were divided into initial phonemes, final phonemes, and vowel phonemes, while OA items were classified into initial consonants, final consonants, and vowels. Through the results of PA and OA tasks, ㅊ and ㅈ, and ㅍ and ㅂ were derived as the most challenging initial phonemes/letters for Thai learners. ㄹ and ㄴ were also seen as challenging final phonemes/letters. However, new error types were also found in transferring ㄴ into ㄹ, which is the reverse of the previous studies done (ㄹ was transferred into ㄴ). Diphthongs such as ㅠ, ㅛ, ㅕ, and ㅖ have emerged as the most challenging vowels. The aspects of PA and OA were closely reflected in PP, and in turn, the aspects of PP are reflections of the underlying abilities of PA and OA. Therefore, to enhance learners’ pronunciation production, Korean language educators should note that the above-mentioned phonemes and letters are difficult for Thai learners and they need to provide explicit instructional strategies for the corresponding items.

Shaping community-based curriculum of local wisdom on palmyra palm at Huai Krot community in Chai Nat province of Thailand: Initial design processes

Jutharat Nokkaew — 2024-09-30

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the curriculum development process undertaken by the Huai Krot community in the Chai Nat province of Thailand. The curriculum is centered on the local wisdom on palmyra palm, a valuable local resource. Achievement of this objective was facilitated through the delineation of the preparation and planning phases of course development. The commencement of community curricula entailed the execution of two fundamental stages. Before integrating the community curriculum into the educational process, it was crucial to establish efficient management strategies and conduct a thorough evaluation of the community’s engagement. Data collection involved the use of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The investigation delineated two fundamental phases in the construction of a community curriculum. Preparation involved the assessing community capacity and needs. The primary stage of research was dedicated to familiarizing oneself with the field, whereas the subsequent stage of research was focused on identifying relevant curriculum concerns. The subsequent stage entailed the formulation of a curriculum plan that was firmly grounded in the local community. This stage required executing six tasks pertaining to curriculum formulation. The activities involved the forming of a committee, identifying challenges related to meeting community needs, training of trainers who would form community/local researcher teams, creating a curriculum based on community input, assessing the curriculum, and establishing a supervisory team. The article contributes to the understanding of how community-oriented curricula that utilize local knowledge and resources could play a crucial role in enabling, nurturing, and sustaining the growth of local communities.

Cultural exchange: A case study of Huizhou architecture Yin Yu Tang reassembly in the United States

Juan Chen — 2024-10-30

In 1997, the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) acquired the Yin Yu Tang (Hall of Plentiful Shelter), a historic Huizhou building situated in Xiuning County, Anhui province, China. This structure is a significant example of China’s Huizhou architectural heritage. It was shipped to the United States, and underwent meticulous reconstruction at the museum’s premises in Salem, Massachusetts. The objectives of this research were 1) to scrutinize the transplantation of architectural heritage within the Yin Yu Tang project, as well as its related cultural and traditional aspects; 2) to describe how Yin Yu Tang was "revitalized" in a new socio-cultural environment by providing an in-depth interpretation of Yin Yu Tang in a multicultural context; and 3) to examine the essential position of Yin Yu Tang in the overseas dissemination of traditional Huizhou architecture. This study adopts research methods in architectural culturology to conduct an analytical study, gathering information from existing documents in the United States and collecting data through interviews with key individuals in China. It is clearly shown that the "transplantation" of the Yin Yu Tang provides a valuable cross-cultural opportunity for the American public to gain insights into Chinese culture, architecture, customs, and family routines. It also encourages reflection on the importance of preserving historic buildings, not only from an architectural standpoint but also in terms of adapting to evolving values through the lens of architectural culture.

Broken rung roles in the female leadership deficit phenomenon in Indonesia

Muhammad Irfan Syaebani — 2024-11-04

The underrepresentation of women in top management positions is marked by a decline in participation as the hierarchy rises. This study investigates the impact of the "broken rung" phenomenon—referring to unfair promotion systems as a key barrier to female career advancement—on the leadership deficit among women in Indonesia. Using a qualitative methodology and a phenomenological approach, data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews. The research analysis followed four stages of coding: open coding, axial coding, selective coding, and process coding. Findings reveal that gender stereotypes in certain industries and occupations contribute to the scarcity of female leaders. The shortage of female leaders initially stems from the limited presence of women in specific industries, influenced by these stereotypes. The "broken rung" is not the primary factor in Indonesia’s female leadership deficit, as there were already few women in specific sectors before unfair company systems impacted them. The root cause is not an unfriendly promotion system, but rather the unequal distribution of female workers across industries. Feminine-dominated sectors see higher female representation, while masculine-dominated sectors do not. Unfortunately, a significant portion of jobs are perceived as masculine, leading to an overrepresentation of male-dominated industries.

Driving a three-age learning curriculum from local wisdom under the “YANGKHINOK Model” in Thailand

Kittipong Pearnpitak — 2024-11-04

This study had the objective of developing a three-age learning curriculum from local wisdom under the YANGKHINOK Model which focuses on time, resources, knowledge, skills, and sincerity to enhance competency and leverage social networks in Khueang Nai District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand. Due to the dynamics of global society influencing Thai education, integrating local wisdom in curriculum development is essential for preserving cultural heritage and community sustainability. A mixed method of qualitative case studies and quantitative evaluation was employed to assess the efficacy of the local wisdom project. Key findings spotlighted the importance of community participation, educational coordination, and the appropriate development of a curriculum for all age groups by the YANGKHINOK Model (Youth, Adult, Narration, Gathering, Knowledge, Hearkening, Impetus, Network, Older Persons, Keeping). This inclusive approach emphasizes the critical role of collaboration among local communities and educational institutions to ensure that the curriculum remains relevant and adaptable across different generations. The approach also aims to create a contemporary democratic society by promoting continuous learning and sustainable professional development that fosters long-term community resilience. It was concluded that a sustainable community curriculum must include these components to meet the actual needs of the community, as well as being adaptable to social and economic changes. Effective use of limited local resources, strategic planning, and broad participation for practical results lead to lasting sustainability, providing a framework for continuous community improvement.