The Kuomintang Chinese Community in Dynamic Ethnic Relations on Doi Mae Salong

Abstract

The research article consisted of the following objectives: 1) to analyze the establishment of social network of the Kuomintang Chinese; and 2) to analyze the capital accumulation of the Kuomintang Chinese in Santi Kiri village. The study used a qualitative research approach with 45 key informants, 30 Kuomintang Chinese and 15 Akha people selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using an interview form provided by the Chinese Yunnan Kuomintang on Doi Mae Salong. The data gathered from the interview were evaluated.

From the study, the following results were found: 1) The Kuomintang Chinese formed their social network under the Thai government, with assistance from Taiwan and China, resulting in capital accumulation for each generation of Kuomintang Chinese. The process of establishing this ethnic group has progressed from refugee status to legal Thai nationality. The social networks of the Kuomintang Chinese were built in three generations: (1) The first generation emphasized group solidarity; (2) The second generation built an external social network that included Taiwan, Thailand, and China. There was a transformation of social and cultural capital into economic capital, and interactions between ethnic groups took place; and (3) Socialization was undertaken in order to integrate into Thai society while forming a new ethnic identity, 2) The analysis of capital accumulation and capital utilisation revealed three forms of social capital accumulation: cultural capital, economic capital and social capital. The first generation accumulated capital in the form of land, developed agriculture, but did not convert social networks into economic capital. The second generation, in which Taiwan provided support in education, agriculture and tourism, led to increased capital accumulation and relations with the Akha group, which in turn led to more social network and tourism promotion, a shift from cultural capital to economic capital, and the promotion of economic development. And finally, the third generation, in which many of them moved to the big cities to get an education and advance professionally, where they could accumulate more capital than in Doi Mae Salong.