ASSIGNMENT 2: ARTICLE ANALYSIS

[Lassalete Da CostaNeto]

This was a very interesting article! It is inspiring to see that Thailand is taking a step closer to gaining equal rights for members of the LBGTQ+ community especially since, despite being marginalised by the law, they are a huge part of Thai society. It is good to see that the younger generation are taking a stand!

[Max Berry]

https://www.economist.com/news/2008/01/07/thai-politics?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhs-k6Y_-_wIVx1MrCh1K5gkAEAAYASAAEgLvgfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

This article discusses a sweeping investigation into alleged election fraud and a legal case against Thailand’s leading political party, the People Power Party (PPP). The investigation and legal action are seen as attempts by the military backers of the 2006 coup to prevent Thaksin Shinawatra’s allies from returning to power. Thaksin, a former prime minister who was ousted in the coup, has strong ties to the PPP. The article highlights the ongoing polarization between pro- and anti-Thaksin forces in Thai politics, which poses a significant challenge even if the actions against the PPP do not significantly change the election outcome.

The PPP is the successor to the dissolved Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party, which was led by Thaksin. The TRT was dissolved in 2007 due to electoral fraud allegations, widely seen as politically motivated. Although Thaksin is in exile and not the formal leader of the PPP, many of his allies are part of the party, and it openly shows its loyalty to him. This loyalty is viewed as problematic by the military-backed interim government, which seeks to prevent what it perceives as a proxy for Thaksin and the TRT from coming into power.

[Maheen Shah]

https://www.unicef.org/thailand/press-releases/alarming-poor-mental-health-trend-among-children-and-adolescents-thailand-requires

Alarming poor mental health trend among children and adolescents in Thailand requires urgent investment in services:

This article was published in 2022, so the findings are very recent. I have chosen to base my article around mental health in Thailand, as I am interested to develop my career as a psychologist, therefore my chosen topic is important and personal to me.
The article explains that mental health disorders amongst the youth of Thailand are a growing concern. It is quoted that ‘1 in 7 adolescents aged 10-19 and 1 in 14 children aged 5-9 have mental health disorders in Thailand’ (UNICEF), these rates of poor mental health are alarming and are only going to get higher if proper measurements aren’t put into place.
It has been explained by the article that there is a stigma around mental health disorders in Thailand and therefore people are unlikely to discuss when they are struggling openly. There is very little access to proper support. In order to overcome this issue, the education system could start off by talking about these growing issues, if it is addressed within a safe environment, people are more likely to feel like they can discuss and open up more.
Growing up in a Westernised country, we often forget how lucky we are to have basic support and access to mental health systems that are deeply embedded in our society. We don’t realise that this isn’t the same for everyone, as in some countries the talk about one feeling depressed, anxious and suicidal isn’t the norm and they cannot get help as easily, as it is still a topic that needs to be accepted and talked about more widely.
As an individual passionate about ensuring people have the right support and access to services, I would love to understand how they treat mental disorders in different cultures and countries.

[Maheen Shah]

This article was so interesting to read! I loved being able to have an insight into the Thai education system, which will be of use to me as I will be a part of this system during my time here! It helped me understand the system from a different perspective and as someone who was raised with the British education system, I liked being able to see how the Thai education system works!

[Amelia Bradshaw]

Political Freedom and Civil Liberties in Thailand

Article on freedom within Thailand: https://freedomhouse.org/country/thailand/freedom-world/2022. I have chosen an article written by Freedom House, an American non-profit organisation which measures political freedom and civil liberties in many different countries around the world. In 2022 Freedom House awarded Thailand just 29/100 for a Freedom in the World ranking, which it calculates on a weighted scale. Therefore, it has concluded to Thailand to not be free. In fact, Thailand fell a point from the previous year.

First, the article summarises the events in 2021 that influenced this ranking, such as the police killing of a teenage protester participating in anti-government protests, and a former civil servant receiving a 43.5-year prison sentence for lese-majeste ́. The article then reflects on Thailand’s political rights, using a scale of 0-4 points to measure how relatively free and fair the nation is. The article determines the head of Thai government to have not been elected through the medium of free and fair elections, scoring 0/4, due to Thailand having a constitutional monarch who serves as head of state. Freedom House next surmises the current national legislative representatives to not have been elected through free and fair elections, scoring 1/4. This score was influenced by the corruption, media censorship and unequal access and political repression, which characterised Thailand’s last general election in 2019. The article then concludes the electoral laws and framework to not be fair not implemented impartially, scoring just 0/4. It accredits this score to changes in the 2017 Thai constitution which weakened political parties and elected officials whilst boosting unelected institutions.

The article next turns to political pluralism and participation, giving a score of 1/4 to the right for people to organise in different political parties of their choice. This was affected by the military’s banning of political parties meeting between 2014 and 2018, a ban that has since been lifted but there is still much pressure applied to any party that opposes military rule. In terms of realistic opportunity for opposition to garner support or gain power through elections, Freedom House has dismissed this prospect in Thai politics, scoring just 0/4 due to the weakness of opposition due to constitutional restraints. Thai political choice free of external pressure is scored a mere 0/4, due to the influence the monarchy exerts on politics, and political equality to all segments of the population just 1/4 due to the political marginalisation of minority groups and lack of female representation in government.

Freedom House then examines functioning of government, concluding that freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives do not determine the policies of the government, scoring 0/4. Instead, these are chosen by a small group of military elites. It then postulates that anti-corruption legislature is not adequately enforced, scoring just 1/4 for safeguarding against official corruption. The government is not thought to operate with openness and transparency, scoring 1/4. Even as a tourist, governmental corruption within a country can impede your experience travelling as it can often result in a lower quality of public services.

In terms of civil liberties, Thailand fares slightly better than political freedoms. However, free and independent media is not available to Thai population, scoring just 1/4 as the military government frequently intimidates and oppresses these outlets. On the other hand, religious freedom is largely respected scoring 3/4, as officially there is no state religion. Contrastingly, academic freedom is highly curtailed due to widespread political indoctrination in the school curriculum and certain topics banned for research, with academics facing immense pressure from the state should they disobey, scoring 1/4. Moreover, individuals are not able to express their personal views on politics without fear of serious consequences, scoring just 1/4. These type of restrictions worry me as a tourist in Thailand, I will definitely have to censor myself quite frequently before I speak!

There was little freedom of assembly in Thailand during the COVID crisis, and these restrictions were prolonged unnecessarily in order for the government to maintain population control whilst ostensibly protecting ‘the safety of the people’, scoring just 1/4. There is little freedom for NGOs and trade unions, both scoring just 1/4 due to governmental crackdowns on these groups and restrictive laws put in place. Freedom House perceives the rule of law in Thailand to be weak, with judicial independence scoring just 1/4 as a result of politicised and corrupt courts. Whilst estimating that due process does not prevail in civil and criminal matters, as detentions can be prolonged periods and activists are regularly denied bail, scoring just 1/4. Furthermore, there is little protection offered to the population from the unlawful use of force from war and insurgencies. The score given here is again 1/4, as the Thai police and military do not face accountability and there is no law in the constitution prohibiting torture, leaving this open to abuse. In terms of laws, policies and practices guaranteeing equal treatment of all, Thailand scores a slightly higher 2/4, however there are still groups who face frequent discrimination such as women and refugees.

Thailand shows the most promise in personal autonomy and individual rights, with freedom of movement scoring a 3/4. The right to own property and establish private business without state interference scores a 2/4, as whilst this is enshrined by law often the state intervenes unnecessarily. Personal social freedoms such as choice of partner is ranked a 3/4 as whilst women and men are legally equal, women are regularly discouraged from reporting rape and domestic violence. This is quite concerning as a female traveller staying in Thailand for a prolonged period. Regarding equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation, Freedom House scores Thailand a 2/4 due to widespread human trafficking and frequent human rights violations in the labour market.

Overall, this article highlights that a great deal of progress is required in order for Thailand to be a more equitable and freer place to live. Whilst this article, amongst others, highlights that tourists and ex-pats largely benefit from greater freedom than their Thai counterparts, I will certainly be conscious of this political and social oppression when I visit Thailand. I am very excited to travel, but I am a little apprehensive about staying somewhere with such strict, authoritarian laws.

[Vanessa Henderson]

Article Review: https://www.academia.edu/11373994/English_Language_Teaching_and_Learning_in_Thailand_in_this_Decade

The article ‘English Language Teaching and Learning in Thailand in this Decade’ by Arunee Wiriyachitra begins by touching on the notion that the English-speaking population of Thailand is much lower than nearby Southeast Asian countries. This is largely due to the fact that Thailand has never been colonised. Research indicates that the English curriculum in Thai universities currently does not meet the demand for English in up and coming employment opportunities. Wiriyachitra goes on to acknowledge that the country will likely lag behind its neighbours with regard to global business, education, science, and technology if the teaching and learning of English is not increased. According to Biyaem, 1997, the lack of English fluency in students stems from the shortage of opportunities to use English in their daily lives and being too shy to speak the language with their fellow classmates, which I believe remains true, and is often the case when learning a new language.
The article goes on to acknowledge the ways in which the English-speaking population of Thailand can be increased, some of which include an adjustment to curriculum, more international programs and self-learning centres, and the development of Thai English teachers, incorporating continuous training every two years. This was a short but interesting read that would be beneficial for any teachers, whether they are native English-speakers or not, as it highlights the demand of the teaching industry Thailand and touches on the global benefit of a multilingual nation in modern society.

[Amelia Bradshaw]

Hi Claire,

I think this article is so interesting as although hairstyles might seem an insignificant topic at first, these kind of oppressive rules speak to the lack of individual freedom citizens of Thailand face. Moreover, this is indoctrinated in children’s psyche from a young age through rigid rules at school, which reinforce the idea that these types of laws are normal and acceptable. Whilst hair might not seem the be all and end all, these restrictions go beyond the surface as they impact a child’s entire identity. Moreover, whilst the government claim to have relaxed this rule, leaving it up to the individual school’s discretion is merely passing the buck, in my opinion.

[Vanessa Henderson]

Hello Mafuza!
I really enjoyed reading your article analysis on Thailand’s education and skill crisis. Similarly, the article I reviewed discusses the discrepancy between the English-speaking population and the rapidly changing job market demands of the country. I agree that Thailand seeking to attract foreigners with high skills as opposed to investing in its own people is unsustainable for the country long-term. Instead, they should implement continued training for current Thai English teachers and reassess the English curriculum in Thai universities. I knew there was a lack of accessibility to English resources in Thailand, but I didn’t realise there was a crisis. I am glad I had the opportunity to learn more about this matter!

[Sam Glossop]

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/corporate/40029073

Equality within the STEM professions is a broadly acknowledged issue with concerning implications. The 2023 3M State of Science Index (a report informed by a survey of one thousand general consumers) found an overwhelming majority believe under-represented groups and women are major sources of untapped potential (87% and 79% respectively). Furthermore, 89% of respondents believe STEM professionals are key to solving major future challenges such as climate change, while 86% believe science plays a key role in improving the lives of vulnerable populations. Finally, 88% wish to hear more from scientists about societal issues. Together, these findings indicate high levels of trust and belief in STEM professions within the Thai population.

The trust in STEM professions must be utilised fully. A lack of diversity in STEM professions and in the implementation of the solutions developed has significant consequences. For example, a diverse workforce has more unique ideas which can lead to new breakthroughs or ideas. Secondly, a non-diverse workforce wastes the brightest minds of under-represented groups. Finally, when diversity is absent from the groups determining how new technologies are used, the marginalised groups do not experience the full benefits. In summary, there is a fantastic opportunity to make full use of the high levels of trust in STEM professions.

Teachers can make significant contribution to improving diversity. An inspiring teacher who captivates their students will encourage many of them to pursue STEM careers. More specifically, they can specifically target students from under-represented backgrounds for extra help and support in navigating their career, or they cam simply show them that while they are under-represented, there are people like them who work in STEM.

To conclude, the Thai population shows high levels of trust in STEM professions, but this workforce lacks diversity leading to inefficient use of a strong position. Teachers may be one part of solving this complex puzzle.

[Pavan Pal]

https://www.adventure-life.com/thailand/articles/brief-history-of-thailand#:~:text=Ancient%20History&text=Thailand’s%20cultural%20influences%20have%20included,what%20was%20known%20as%20Siam.

The article provides a historical account of Thailand, highlighting its modern and ancient history. In terms of modern history, Thailand managed to maintain its independence and avoid colonial rule during the 19th and 20th centuries, unlike many other Southeast Asian countries. The Siamese Revolution in 1932 marked the end of the absolute monarchy and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, albeit with ongoing power struggles between civilian and military factions. Thailand endured several decades of military rule, but eventually transitioned to a democratic government in 1992, which remains in place today. Throughout this period, Thailand formed alliances with Japan during World War II and maintained close ties with the United States in the post war era, steering clear of communism that influenced its neighbouring countries.

In terms of ancient history, the article mentions indigenous civilizations, including the Mon-Khmer and Malay civilizations, which inhabited the region now known as Thailand. The cultural influences from India, the Kingdom of Funan, and the Khmer Empire played a significant role in shaping Thai culture, with the spread of Buddhism being particularly notable. The article also highlights the Khmer domination and subsequent independence of Thai city-states, the successful retention of independence by the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, and the liberation of city-states from Burmese control under General Taksin.

As someone traveling to or living in Thailand, this historical information provides valuable context for understanding the country’s rich heritage. It sheds light on Thailand’s resilience in maintaining independence and avoiding colonial rule, which can be appreciated when exploring its historical sites and interacting with its people. The mention of diplomatic relations with Western nations, particularly Britain and France, underscores Thailand’s skilful diplomacy and contributes to a deeper understanding of its political landscape. Overall, this historical knowledge enhances one’s experience in Thailand by fostering a greater appreciation for its past and present, as well as the cultural influences that have shaped the country.

[Pavan Pal]

Hello Sam,

The article review highlights the pressing issue of equality within the STEM professions and the importance of utilizing the high levels of trust in STEM professions in Thailand. I find it encouraging that the Thai population has such a strong belief in the untapped potential of underrepresented groups and women in STEM, as well as recognizing the crucial role of STEM professionals in solving major challenges and improving the lives of vulnerable populations.
I also appreciate the emphasis on the role of teachers in improving diversity within STEM. Inspiring and supportive teachers can play a significant role in encouraging students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to pursue STEM careers. By providing targeted support and representation, teachers can help break down barriers and empower students to see themselves as capable contributors to the field.

Pavan

[Zara Dove]

Article: https://www.unicef.org/thailand/press-releases/unicef-report-finds-children-thailand-high-risk-climate-change-and-environmental

The article ‘UNICEF report finds children in Thailand at ‘high risk’ from climate change and environmental degradation’ outlines the risks caused by climate change that are faced by children in Thailand, particularly prevalent in some north-eastern and southern provinces. The report by UNICEF found that Thailand is particularly affected by ‘extreme heat, cold, floods, and droughts’, consequences of climate change for which the country does not have sufficient facilities and resources in every province to successfully combat. This is particularly detrimental to the lives of children in Thailand because it can lead to serious illnesses and malnutrition which pose problems for their developing immune systems, and in some extreme cases can lead to deaths. It also threatens to impact their daily lives and education through causing school absences, and requiring lots of time and money to treat illnesses.
The article outlines suggested actions to mitigate the impact of climate change on children, which can be implemented into government, education, and society. This includes measures to take which can limit the effects of climate change in particularly high-risk communities, such as improving provision of resources and preventative systems. It also discusses the importance of raising awareness and teaching children and adults how to protect against the effects of climate change. This is particularly relevant to us as teachers in Thailand, as we have the opportunity to make a positive impact through increasing understanding and skills to better equip children to recognise and protect against climate change in their communities. This can be achieved both through providing information about sustainability, and also by encouraging discussion among children. The article states that young people in Thailand are increasingly involved and consulted in events on climate change, such as in UNICEF Thailand’s U-Report, and in the COP-27 summit, which indicates initial development towards change, which can be further improved on.

[Haochen Wang]

Undocumented Myanmar children to be allowed to attend class in Chiang Rai

Undocumented Myanmar children to be allowed to attend class in Chiang Rai

The article, released only yesterday, outlines how a foundation in the northern Thai province of Chiang Rai has been providing accommodation and shelter for 18 of 126 undocumented Myanmar children displaced from a school in the Ang Thong province. The article then moves to talk about how the children had been offered schooling in a nearby school and how local Thai officials argued against repatriation in fear of furthering the children’s suffering from the unrest in Myanmar. Though quite short, the article points to a pertinent ongoing issue within southeast Asia – the continued political unrest caused, in major part, by the mismatch between political and ethnic sovereignty, has tormented every level of society, with children being hit especially hard.

As a volunteer soon to travel to Thailand, I think this kind of issue is particularly important. Of course, travelling to Thailand to teach, irrespective of region, the main subject of teaching will presumably be Thai children and students. However, with the current climate of the southeast Asian region, looking especially at regions in the north (Isan, Chiang Rai) where there is a fluid (and often ill-documented) movement of peoples, it will be important to consider the variety of backgrounds and identities that may be present within the communities and classrooms that I may be interacting with. Particularly with the issue of undocumented children, it will be especially important to be mindful of sensitive topics – how to navigate them and, if the need arises, how to be of help in any capacity and way I can.

[Haochen Wang]

Hi Pavan,

Really enjoyed reading your discussion and comments on the article and the relevance of historical knowledge. I definitely agree with your sentiments regarding the need to be aware of the rich history that Thailand, and the entirety of the southeast Asian region, enjoys in order to be able to fully appreciate our time there.
I think there is a particular need for that kind of understanding and, perhaps more importantly, desire to understand history now as the entire region is embroiled in new forms of conflict that continues to change the conditions and societies of the region and without some semblance of understanding, it would be difficult to effectively contribute to or participate in any form of discussion with peers in Thailand.

[Zara Dove]

Hi Pavan,
This article is really interesting in outlining the history of Thailand, which was so eventful and has been influential to the making of modern Thailand today. Your summary and analysis are very helpful in providing a concise account of all periods of Thai history. I agree with you that having historical knowledge of Thailand is very relevant and useful for someone travelling to/living in Thailand. Knowing the ancient history means that we can properly understand and appreciate Thai culture, its influences, and its origins, which is especially important in order to be able to adjust to it and respect it. Modern history and changes in government and diplomatic relations are also important topics to know about because they give context for the current political situation and are events that many people that we meet would have lived through.

[Author]

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