Water Privatization during Rising Demand: The Case of Southern Thailand

This is the first of the papers to be presented at the 3rd ICIRD at Chulalongkorn University in November as part of our panel of Uneven Development in the Mekong Region: Infrastructure and Gender Issues.

Abstract:

Water privatization is an emotive subject and one that attracted a bad reputation owing to botched efforts in some western countries that have seen profits rise while services decline and apparently predatory privatization in South Africa and elsewhere that denied water to the poor. Water is widely considered to be a public good that should be available to people at a price as close to zero as possible. A powerful campaign to make access to water a human right has been launched and there is an evident contradiction between human rights and the market-based transactions seemingly required for water treated as a commodity. Yet this contradiction must somehow be resolved because the demand for water is continuously increasing as the result of intensifying industrialization and urbanization and the huge increases in scale of the tourism industry. While demand is rapidly escalating, supply conditions have become much less predictable as the result of the increasingly evident impacts of global climate change. Privatization can have a role in ameliorating these problems if it is properly planned and managed, if the scope of individual projects is limited to the scale issues endemic in management of water resources and, finally, if appropriate governance promotes objectives that are socially beneficial rather than depending entirely on the bottom line. This paper explores the ways in which water privatization has taken place in the south of Thailand from a comparative perspective and evaluates the limits of what can be achieved by these means and also investigates the contours of a successful privatization project.

Keywords: global climate change, industrialization, privatization, Thailand, water

Alin Chintraruck, Doctoral Candidate, School of Management, Shinawatra University

John Walsh, Assistant Professor, School of Management, Shinawatra University

Cultural Sociology of Divorce: An Encyclopedia

This three volume set just arrived this morning and very handsome it looks too. Here are the entries that I wrote:

Walsh, John, “Kyrgyzstan” (Vol.2, pp.650-2), “Maldives” (Vol.2, pp.745-6), “Micronesia” (Vol.2, pp.817-8), “Nauru” (Vol.2, pp.862-3), “Papua New Guinea” (Vol.2, pp.935-6), “Seychelles” (Vol.3, pp.1089-90), “Tonga” (Vol.3, pp.1207-9), “Turkmenistan” (Vol.3, pp.1214-5), “Tuvalu” (Vol..3, pp.1216-7), “Uzbekistan” (Vol.3, pp.1257-9), “Vanuatu” (Vol.3, pp.1261-2)  in Robert E. Emery, ed., Cultural Sociology of Divorce: An Encyclopedia (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Inc., 2013).

Sino-Thai Relations in Historical Perspective: The Implications for Contemporary Organizational Management

This paper, by Sirirat Ngamsang and myself, has been accepted for publication at the forthcoming ICGBE Conference to be held in Bangkok in June this year.

Abstract:

Thailand and China have had a relationship for many centuries, initially as a result of Siam (now Thailand) joining the tributary system that permitted participation in the designated Chinese markets. The relationship has also taken place at an individual level as the result of untold thousands of Chinese migrants who have travelled to the south in search of a better life. On various occasions in history, the presence of Chinese migrants has provoked a discourse of conflict, in which the migrants were considered to present a ‘problem’ and, infamously, ‘the Jews of the East.’ National relations were halted during the Japanese invasion of China and then the Civil War that led to the Communist Revolution. Thailand’s presence in the American-led capitalist world prevented formal communications and this remained the case until the normalization of relations after the Open Door Policy was announced. During that period, many Chinese migrants and their family members were suspected of collusion with a potential Communist insurgency in Thailand and this encourage further integration into Thai society while, also, inhibiting the creation of a political party aiming to represent ethnic Chinese interests. Normalization of relations has been followed by rapid increase in trade and investment on a bilateral basis and the signing of various international agreements have deepened and broadened the forms of cooperation that have been possible. Chinese corporations have been accompanied by Confucius Institutes, which are non-governmental organizations promoting Chinese language teaching and cultural exchange. This paper explores the changing nature of Sino-Thai relations through history and uses this analysis to discuss the implications for organizational management in the present.

Keywords: China, historical relations, migration, organizational management, Thailand

Cross-Border Exchanges in the Western Mekong Region: The Role of Monks and the Laity

This paper, by Pramaha Min Putthithanasombat, Petcharat Lovichakorntikul, Sirirat Ngamsang and myself, has been accepted for presentation at the forthcoming ICGBE Conference to be held in June here in Bangkok.

Abstract:

The legacy of history, nationalism and lack of trust have contributed to the comparatively poor cross-border relations in the Mekong Region and, in particular, between Thailand and its majority Buddhist neighbours Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. These relations tend to obscure the common features that unite the people of the region. Principal among these commonalities is the tradition of Theravadin Buddhism, which is the form practiced and which places particular emphasis of the role of monks and the importance of doing virtuous works as part of the process of spiritual development that will eventually lead towards nirvana. Linguistic differences across borders are mediated by the underlying reliance on the Pali language, which is used to record and transmit Buddhist teachings. Many cross-border activities take place on an informal basis in which individual learn how to communicate with each other. One aspect of this is travel for pilgrimage and knowledge-seeking purposes, both monks and lay people cross the borders concerned, although little research has been conducted into this form of tourism. Using personal interviews of people concerned, this research study has been intended to delineate the extent to which these kinds of cross-border movements take place, their impacts in terms of improving social relations and economic growth and, also, the opportunities for enhancing educational opportunities for those involved.

Keywords: Buddhism, cross-border travel, Mekong Region, Thailand.

Consciousness of Social Responsibility at the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate and Pollution Management

This paper (by Supaporn Pinyochatchinda and myself) has been accepted for presentation at the forthcoming ICGBE to be held in Bangkok in June this year.

Abstract:

Map Ta Phut is one of Thailand’s largest and most important industrial estates and one that has had a reputation for housing some pollution-producing factories. Although the Thai state has acted to implement various regulations aimed at curbing such pollution, such regulations can only really be successfully enacted when the people involved – employers and employees alike – understand the purpose of such regulation and are willing to internalize the requirements upon them that it implies in their daily practices. Effective pollution control requires compliance at all levels of operation. To investigate the extent to which people have internalized these actions, this research study conducted quantitative research with a sample of 532 respondents (380 employees and 152 executives or managers) in companies located within the industrial estate. Questionnaires were designed with a view to exploring the validity of a pollution management model that incorporates Context, Input, Processes, People, Society, Economy and Technology (CIPPSET). Results indicate that while most companies scored reasonably well for social consciousness of the issues involved, there are variations in the results which are indicative of persistent problems in the estate. These results are explored and discussed and conclusions and recommendations drawn from them.

Keywords: industrial estate, pollution, pollution management, Thailand

Supaporn Pinyochatchinda and John Walsh

Uneven Development in the Mekong Region, Infrastructure and Gender Relations

Our panel proposal for the 3rd International Conference for International Relations and Development to be held at Chulalongkorn University in November has been accepted. These are the details that I submitted (and may vary slightly for the final version):

Rationale:

Uneven development in the Mekong Region is linked to the distribution of natural resources and the geographic conditions of specific areas. The unevenness of development may be mitigated or exacerbated by the creation of physical infrastructure, including road and rail links, power and telephone lines, dams and river basin management systems. While the impacts of infrastructure development may be evident at a large geographical scale, there may be a significant level of churn at a much lower level – the level of the household. Within households, gender relations may be affected by the unanticipated and sometimes unintended consequences of charges at a higher level. Previous research has shown how the opening of a bridge over the Mekong has transformed cross-border arbitrage opportunities previously available to small-scale female entrepreneurs, intensified problems and opportunities for returning female migrants and created the opportunity for the creation of para-statal areas which are beyond the effective reach of accountable governmental organizations. These changes have been accompanied by a version of the Great Transformation passing across the Mekong Region that has occurred, in part at least, through a process of accumulation by dispossession. Numerous other changes have been brought about at the household and community levels as a result of changes such as these and many are susceptible to observation from qualitative research approaches and measurement from quantitative research approaches. This panel aims to explore the nature of these changes in the Mekong Region and their impacts on gender relations within households using a mixture of methodologies and with a view to helping to understand the interrelationships between changes at the macro scale and impacts at the micro scale.

Panellists will include:

Teresita Del Rosario will present an overview of development and its impact on gender relations with specific reference to the Mekong Region.

Alin Chintraruck, whose paper will explore the processes and purposes of privatization in the water industry in the southern part of Thailand in the context of increasing demand and diverse sources of water and its impact on households.

Petcharat Lovichakorntikul and Sirirat Ngamsang will present the results of a comparative quantitative study on changes in agricultural production in Thailand and Cambodia associated with variations in choice of rice seeds, pesticides and fertilizers and the impact this has on gendered decision-making in the household.

John Walsh will describe the spread and intensification of industrial estates and Special Economic Zones across the Mekong Region, their interaction with the increasing physical infrastructure of, in particular, the Asian Highway Network and the changes this has led to in household and community relations.

Affiliations of Panellists:

Professor Dr. Teresita Del Rosario is Institutional Capacity Needs Assessment Specialistat Asian Development Bank, Thailand, Visiting Senior Fellow at the Center for Asian Law Studies and Visiting Associate Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.

Ms. Alin Chintraruck is a doctoral candidate at the School of Management, Shinawatra University.

Ms. Petcharat Lovichakorntikul is a doctoral candidate at the School of Management, Shinawatra University.

Ms. Sirirat Ngamsang is a doctoral candidate at the School of Maangement, Shinawatra University.

Dr. John Walsh is Director of the Research Centre, Shinawatra University, Editor of the SIU Journal of Management and Assistant Professor at the School of Management, Shinawatra University.

Seasonal Labour Migration from a Rural Nepalese Village

This paper, by Dilip Kumar Jha and myself, has been accepted for presentation at the forthcoming ICGBE Conference to be held in Bangkok in June.

Abstract:

This paper investigates seasonal migration of villagers in poor, rural households in VDC-Dekaha, Mahottari in Nepal. Seasonal migration for work is often their principal source of income and so moving to India to work in agricultural activities in rural areas or factory work in large cities is a widespread and almost compulsory phenomenon. The length of time that they can stay and the income that they can earn is not known in advance and the workers must find whatever work is available after they arrive in their location. The migrants are males over the age of 14, while women generally remain in the village to provide domestic and emotional labour. This paper reports on research conducted by direct observation of a rural Nepalese household as part of a larger research project involving mitigation of poverty in the country. Interim findings aree presented and some implications drawn for future investigation.

Keywords: migration, Nepal, poverty, rural households

Dilip Kumar Jha and John Walsh, Shinawatra University

Space and Workplace Issues for Nepalese Female Entrepreneurs

This paper, by Ms Reema Thakur and myself, has been accepted for presentation at the forthcoming ICGBE conference to be held in Bangkok in June.

Abstract:

Most of the literature focusing on the work and aspirations of female entrepreneurs has been produced by and about a western environment and context. Comparatively little literature has been produced within the sphere of management studies about the particular issues facing women entrepreneurs in terms of aspirations, work-life balance and general operational issues. Among the problems facing Nepalese women wishing to work outside the house is the issue of being seen in public and interacting with strangers in public places while remaining decent and respectable. Some public spaces are considered suitable for women to occupy and this can vary because of the powerful caste, class and ethnicity issues that colonise Nepalese society, This paper investigates the different strategies that a sample of Nepalese female entrepreneurs have used to negotiate their presence in public spaces and the censure that they might experience if they are perceived to have overstepped the limits of propriety. This includes the work of street vendors and other entrepreneurs. Data is provided by personal interview as well as ethnographic observation. This provides recommendations for both the women involved and also public policy.

Keywords: entrepreneurs, female entrepreneurs, Nepal, public space

Reema Thakur and John Walsh

Economic Policy under the Pheu Thai Government of Thailand, 2011-3

This paper has been accepted for presentation at the forthcoming ICGBE to be held in June this year.

Abstract:

Since its landslide electoral victory in 2011, the incoming Pheu Thai administration under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has sought to introduce a radical new economic policy that aims to lead Thailand out of the Middle Income Trap which fastened around the country as a result of the pursuance of low labour-cost export-oriented manufacturing. Policies have included the raising of the minimum wage, construction of infrastructure to promote linkages with neighbouring countries and markets and the encouragement of offshoring of existing low value-added sunset manufacturing facilities. At the same time, the government has had to contend with the hangover of past policies and circumstances, which require trade-offs and compromises to find least worst solutions. A prime example of this has been the rice purchasing programme, which offers a guaranteed price to farmers above the prevailing market price in the hope that a future increase in demand will enable the avoidance of substantial losses. This paper aims to provide an overview of Pheu Thai’s economic policy as a whole to delineate the strategy and logic of the approach, successes and failures to date and prospects for the future.

Keywords: economic policy, infrastructure, Middle Income Trap, Thailand

John Walsh, Shinawatra University

Social Policy and Special Economic Zones in the Greater Mekong Subregion

My paper has been accepted for presentation at the forthcoming Asian Consortium for Social Quality Conference to be held on May 2nd and 3rd. Here is the abstract:

One of the principal means by which state management of rapid economic development has been attempted in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) has been the creation and maintenance of special economic zones (SEZs), which are specific geographic areas in which different laws and regulations take effect. The purpose of SEZs, which come in a variety of different forms, is to encourage domestic and international investment in specific areas to promote mainly export-oriented manufacturing. They have been created in large numbers in Thailand, Vietnam and Yunnan Province of China and are being built across Cambodia, Laos and now Myanmar. Unfortunately, a large proportion of such investment projects have predicated on low labour cost competitiveness, in which mostly low value-added products are made in large numbers to compete in markets on the basis of price alone. Low labour costs are perpetuated by two principal means: drawing people into the industrial sector from the agricultural sector and repression of workers’ rights by state-mandated agencies in the areas of rights to collective bargaining, association, free speech and meaningful democratic representation. Workers have also been crowded into dormitory accommodation and living styles which often attract paternalistic management styles. Some SEZs have become associated with pollution emissions and causing other negative impacts on the physical environment and on local stakeholders. Construction of new has also been associated with the forcible clearance of land and the resettlement of villagers from places that they may have held for generations. These issues are balanced, of course, by the provision of new jobs and better income-generating opportunities for people, families and communities drawn into the world of markets and consumption. SEZs in the GMS are being increasingly drawn together by the large-scale creation of the Asian Highway Network, in addition to investment by domestic governments and by capital from Chinese corporations and the state. The creation of these linkages will have additional changes on the economic geography of the region and of the distribution of the factors leading to uneven development. Further changes are also anticipated to arise from 2015’s ASEAN Economic Community, which is due to facilitate greater cross-border movement for skilled workers in some employment categories while further enabling the economic integration of the region into what it is planned will be a seamless production zone. These changes and developments are all predicated on economic rather than social or human bases. People must adapt themselves to the spread of capitalist creative destruction and what Polanyi described as the Great Transformation. This paper seeks to identify the social and human implications of the spread of SEZs across the GMS and seeks to draw together conclusions that lead to recommendations for public policy that will reduce the risks that people will face as a result. In doing so, it is recognized that there is little if any prospect of economic considerations being removed from primacy in development planning in the foreseeable future.

Keywords: Greater Mekong Subregion, labour rights, social policy, special economic zones