THAILAND’ S SOCIAL WELFARE IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS

Abstract

This article aimed to present history and situations of Thailand’s social welfare management in the developmental process under the discourse framework. The study revealed that Thai social welfares were naturally emerged by the so-called patronage system, in which members of a family or community cared or fostered one another without any rigid patterns. It was coined as community welfares. Then, Thailand was influenced by the concept of nation state and human rights. Thai government accordingly took the role of a provider of welfares, while the communities turned into welfare receivers. After the administrative power was decentralized, communities and the localities were taking some roles in managing the welfares again. The governmental social welfare management is included in 3 main patterns: social insurance, public assistance, and social services. The status of social welfare in the developmental process was treated as a tool to develop people’s quality of life, conditions in international trade protectionism, and populism policy. If the management of social welfare contained any hidden agenda, the people would never be fully benefitted. In the future, the concept believing that the government is the only agent responsible for providing welfares for its people should be revised. Seeking for collaboration from private and public institutes, and also civil society should be included in the management. In addition, Community welfares should be resurrected to allow the community to take care of its members, and strengthen Thai social welfare management.