The construction of local identities in Korat, Thailand

The invention of local identities is becoming an important issue in many parts of the world. Depending on the given circumstances, localism can turn violent as separatist movements, ethnic rioting, civil war, unrest or other forms. However in Thailand we can notice a different pattern: the creation...

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Main Author: Korff, Rudiger
Format: Article
Published: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 1999
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4176/
http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/penerbit/jdem55-08.html
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spelling my-ukm.journal.41762012-05-23T07:35:21Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4176/ The construction of local identities in Korat, Thailand Korff, Rudiger The invention of local identities is becoming an important issue in many parts of the world. Depending on the given circumstances, localism can turn violent as separatist movements, ethnic rioting, civil war, unrest or other forms. However in Thailand we can notice a different pattern: the creation of local traditions is a crucial aspect of national integration beyond Bangkok. In this article, the city of Korat in Northeast Thailand is taken as a case study, to indicate how local identities are formed through the revitalization of local traditions and customs. Korat turned into a boom town with increased global integration during the late eighties. This in turn made the region attractive for Bangkok-based strategic groups. To be able to compete with this, the local elite had to achieve social cohesion, which was based on local identity. Surprising as it may seem, the case of Korat indicates that globalisation of the political system in Thailand, this local identity becomes the basis for real national integration. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 1999-07 Article PeerReviewed Korff, Rudiger (1999) The construction of local identities in Korat, Thailand. AKADEMIKA, 55 . pp. 167-182. ISSN 0126-5008 http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/penerbit/jdem55-08.html
institution Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
building Perpustakaan Tun Sri Lanang Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
content_source UKM Journal Article Repository
url_provider http://journalarticle.ukm.my/
description The invention of local identities is becoming an important issue in many parts of the world. Depending on the given circumstances, localism can turn violent as separatist movements, ethnic rioting, civil war, unrest or other forms. However in Thailand we can notice a different pattern: the creation of local traditions is a crucial aspect of national integration beyond Bangkok. In this article, the city of Korat in Northeast Thailand is taken as a case study, to indicate how local identities are formed through the revitalization of local traditions and customs. Korat turned into a boom town with increased global integration during the late eighties. This in turn made the region attractive for Bangkok-based strategic groups. To be able to compete with this, the local elite had to achieve social cohesion, which was based on local identity. Surprising as it may seem, the case of Korat indicates that globalisation of the political system in Thailand, this local identity becomes the basis for real national integration.
format Article
author Korff, Rudiger
spellingShingle Korff, Rudiger
The construction of local identities in Korat, Thailand
author_facet Korff, Rudiger
author_sort Korff, Rudiger
title The construction of local identities in Korat, Thailand
title_short The construction of local identities in Korat, Thailand
title_full The construction of local identities in Korat, Thailand
title_fullStr The construction of local identities in Korat, Thailand
title_full_unstemmed The construction of local identities in Korat, Thailand
title_sort construction of local identities in korat, thailand
publisher Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
publishDate 1999
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4176/
http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/penerbit/jdem55-08.html
_version_ 1643735984567746560
score 13.211869