Book

Inside Thai society: interpretations of everyday life

The Pepin PressAmsterdam • Published In 1996 • Pages:

By: Mulder, Niels.

Abstract
This is an ambitious work that seeks to identify the cognitive orientation of the Central Thai and Thai accommodation to modernity. Influenced by Buddhism and animism, the Thai see the world in terms of an inside realm of order and moral goodness (KHUNA) and an outside realm of raw power (DECHA). The inside realm includes family, reciprocity, and friendship. It is dominated by the image of the all-loving and self-sacrificing mother, to whom everyone is eternally indebted. The outer realm is one of hierarchy, status rivalry, and patron-client relationships, where one does nothing to offend and provoke others. The outside realm is an arena of careful presentation of self, which Mulder argues has been misunderstood by sociologists as an expression of individualism. This world view has resigned the Thai to rapid change, because the outside world lies beyond their control, however, it makes difficult the development of a civic society, that is a moral realm outside of the most intimate social relationships. Mulder's insights are based on participant observation, contemporary literature, and primary school text books
Subjects
Social personality
Personality traits
Ethos
Status, role, and prestige
Social relationships and groups
Cosmology
Sacred objects and places
Theological systems
culture
Central Thai
HRAF PubDate
2000
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Southeast Asia
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnographer
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 1998
Field Date
1965-1975
Coverage Date
1855-1995
Coverage Place
Thailand
Notes
Niels Mulder
Includes bibliographical references (p. 182-186) and index
LCSH
Thais