1. Aprilita Kusumaningrum
12/328699/SP/25075
Nation-Building Thailand
Influence of Thai-ness Towards Economic Politic Development
in Thailand Contemporer
Thailand is a pluralistic state. Containing of many ethnics whose live in Thailand
making it unique with many culture heritages. As independence country, Thailand monarchy
constitutional system still ruled by the King. The King known as source of power and the
Highest Majesty. This concept implicate on how the society keep maintaining the culture and
tradition even though the wave of globalization are coming.
Changing in this contemporary era bring a new concept of globalization which could
impact badness on Thailand culture heritage. Thus in 1950s, Thailand government implement
the idea such as “sense of belonging” to the culture heritage. It is the ways to minimalize the
negative impact from globalization to culture aspect.
Thai-ness ideology which constructed by Thailand government are implemented in
education and others media. It aim for enhance the patriotism on Thailand society. Existence
of Thai-ness ideology implicate to economic politic development in Thailand, actually in
tourism sector. Thailand was the first country who declare a campaign for tourism sector. In
1985, Tourism Authority of Thailand saw that the first economic boom was a strategic
market to promote some tour destination in Thailand. Some of the destination are excited for
holiday visit. The promotion continued to 1986 when Thailand promoted campaign
programs. The campaign programs was “Brilliant Thailand” (1986) ; “Visit Thailand”
(1987) ; “Exotic Thailand – Golden Places, Smiling Faces” to promote “Thailand – See More
of the Country, See More of the People” (1991) 1
In this case, writers see that national integration to promote Thailand cultural heritage
impact positively for Thailand nation building. The patriotism that occur as the product of
Thai-ness ideology could shape a new integration to promote the cultural heritage on this
contemporary globalization era. Writers argue that this programs will give positive result to
economic politic development in case of collecting devisa from foreign tourist.
1
Kahn, Joel S. Southeast Asian Identities : Culture and the Politics of Representation in Indonesia, Malaysia,
Singapore, and Thailand. Institute of International Studies Singapore-London. P.135