Social Capital Development Model for Strengthening Sustainability of Thai – Lao Border Communities

Abstract

The article aimed 1) to study the state of social capital of Thai-Lao Border Communities. 2) to develop the model and 3) to evaluate the model. This was a mixed method research with a group sample of 337 members of Thai-Lao Border Communities by simple sampling, 12 experts to consider draft of model and 17 professionals to evaluate model. The research instruments were questionnaires, focus groups and model evaluation. Collected data were analyzed by using mean, standard deviation, and content analysis.

The research findings were as follows; 1. The state of social capital of Thai-Lao Border Communities was found to be at a higher level mean 3.32. 2. The development model consisted of: 2.1) community leader developed by knowledge development, developing capacity for strengthening the community, promote the principle of sufficiency economy and behave as a good example; 2.2) human resources developed by knowledge development, self-reliance, grouping, practice of sufficiency economy principles and morality and ethics; 2.3) society, culture and utilities developed by developing social relationships, inherit cultures and local wisdom and development of infrastructure; 2.4) participation and promotion from network partners developed by developing process participation, engaging with network partners and neighboring countries and support from network partners; 2.5) natural resources developed by development as a tourist attraction, conservation and setting of preventive measures. 3. The model assessed by experts resulted in a highest level of suitability and a higher level of possibility.