Journal of Mekong Societies

Damming the Mekong in the Anthropocene: Solastalgia and Gender Vulnerability of Ecological Disruption in Northern Thailand

2025-07-23T23:09:42+07:00

This study examines the phenomenon of solastalgia experienced by Mekong women in Chiang Khong district, Chiang Rai province, whose livelihoods depend on seasonal algae foraging, which is now threatened by environmental changes along the river. Solastalgia refers to the emotional distress caused by the degradation of one’s home environment. In the Anthropocene, an era defined by human-induced planetary disruption, the damming of the Mekong ruptures the multispecies kinships that have long entwined both humans and more-than-humans. Drawing on Donna Haraway’s ecofeminist posthumanism, this research reveals how the disruptions to the river’s ecosystems also sever the symbiotic entanglements that local women have co-created with algae and the river’s broader, more-than-human ecosystems. This research employs a case study approach grounded in multispecies ethnography, drawing on semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and a literature review. By focusing on the cultural, emotional, and ecological dimensions of multispecies entanglements, the study provides an examination of the broader impacts of environmental disruption in the Mekong River in the Anthropocene. The findings, grounded in the lived experiences of 15 women intimately connected to algae foraging, demonstrate that solastalgia is more than emotions; it signifies the collapse of a shared multispecies world, where the degradation of the river threatens both the river’s sustainability and the resilience of the women whose livelihoods are deeply knotted with its ecosystem. Moreover, the study reframes gender vulnerability, moving from anthropocentrism perspectives to a relational, ecological understanding in the Anthropocene. The study advocates for a reimagined environmental governance that prioritizes multispecies justice and acknowledges the interdependent well-being of humans and non-human entities.

Settlement Patterns and Cultural Landscapes of Riverfront Communities in Si Phan Don, Southern Laos

2025-01-13T16:00:47+07:00

This study examines the settlement patterns of riverfront communities in the Si Phan Don region of southern Laos, located along the Mekong River. The research explores the complex interplay between geomorphological characteristics, socio-economic dynamics, and cultural practices that have shaped the development of these communities over time. Utilizing a combination of detailed and rapid survey methods integrated with geographic information systems (GIS), the study provides a comprehensive analysis of the physical and cultural landscapes of the region. Findings highlight the adaptive strategies employed by the local population in response to seasonal fluctuations in the Mekong’s flow regime, which profoundly impact agriculture, fishery, and settlement structures. The study also delves into the implications of modern infrastructure development on traditional settlement patterns, revealing a shift from river-based to road-based transportation, with significant effects on community organization and environmental sustainability. By examining these factors, this research contributes valuable insights into the sustainable management of the region’s natural resources and the preservation of the region’s cultural heritage.

The Vietnamese Diaspora in Udon Thani Province, Thailand: Their Multiple Roles in Peace and Conflict

2024-11-08T16:12:39+07:00

This article examines the evolving roles of the Vietnamese diaspora (Viet Kieu) in Thailand in shaping conflict and post-conflict peacebuilding in Vietnam, as well as their influence on diplomatic relations between Thailand, the host country, and Vietnam, the home country, from the 1940s to the present. Despite its significance, this topic has received limited attention in diaspora studies. Employing transnational and peace and conflict approaches, the study analyzes the behavior of Viet Kieu amid global, regional, and national contextual shifts. Qualitative data were collected in Udon Thani province, northeast Thailand, through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis. Key findings reveal that before the 1990s, the Vietnamese community in northeast Thailand supported Vietnam’s national liberation struggle while navigating Thai authorities’ suspicion. Since the 1990s, they have made significant contributions to peacebuilding in Vietnam and strengthened diplomatic ties between Thailand and Vietnam. These insights enhance the theoretical understanding of diaspora roles in host-home country dynamics.

Tourism in Thailand–Authenticity as “Insta-bae” for Japanese Tourists: A Case Study of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen

2025-07-10T17:20:56+07:00

The Thai temple or wat is regarded as one of the most salient features of Thailand tourism. Some Thai temples are likely to be well known by a specific tourist grouping. Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen (also known as Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen) is one of these places, having drawn a number of Japanese tourists in recent years. This article aims to study the social construction of authentic experience for Japanese tourists at this temple. The research also intends to look at how Japanese tourists interpret the functional objects it contains, and to draw upon Baudrillard’s theory of “the system of objects” in the context of Thai temple tourism. To conceptualize authenticity, Baudrillard’s ideas about functional objects were used extensively, especially those regarding interior design and atmosphere. Methodologically, I conducted qualitative research, employing a documentary research technique in which I researched Japanese tourists’ Instagram and Tripadvisor posts. The findings indicate that authenticity, here, refers to the interpretation of the temple as “Insta-bae,” which renders it authentic for Japanese tourists without affecting its Buddhism-related function. What Japanese tourists view as authentic are the interior design and atmosphere, which are functional objects in the temple. I argue, therefore, that authenticity is socially and differently constructed for Japanese tourists, in that their interpretations and experience regarding this temple differ from those of Thai Buddhists.

A Cross-disciplinary and Cross-linguistic Analysis of Metadiscourse Markers in the Discussion Sections of Chinese and English Research Articles

2025-06-25T17:53:11+07:00

This article presents a cross-disciplinary and cross-linguistic analysis of metadiscourse markers (MDMs) in the discussion sections of Chinese and English research articles. Drawing on an integrated framework adapted from previous classifications of metadiscourse markers, the study examines the distribution of interactive and interactional markers across four disciplines representing Biglan’s typology: education, linguistics, physics, and engineering. A corpus of 200 discussion sections (100 Chinese and 100 English) was compiled from high-impact journals and statistical analyses, including chi-square tests with Monte Carlo significance2 estimates. While no significant differences were detected either across disciplines or between the two languages, distinct usage patterns emerged. Research articles written in English consistently favored interactional markers, emphasizing stance and reader engagement, whereas those written in Chinese demonstrated a more balanced deployment of both interactive and interactional resources. These findings offer valuable insights into how disciplinary norms and linguistic backgrounds shape rhetorical practices in academic writing. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of genre-specific discourse strategies and provides pedagogical implications for academic writing instruction in multilingual contexts.

Representation of Thailand’s Sex Workers in Online English News Reports

2024-10-03T15:10:21+07:00

Although many countries have attempted to address policies to legalize sex work, it is illegal and unacceptable in Thai society despite its contributions to the economy with an estimated number of one million sex workers in 2021. Since media play a significant role in delivering and shaping public opinions, the objectives of the present study are to investigate the linguistic strategies and the representation of Thailand’s sex workers in online English news reports. The data consisted of 54 news reports selected from Bangkok Post and The Nation Thailand in 2021 and 2022. The study employed Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis model (1995), a presupposition trigger model, and representational strategies as the main frameworks. Existential presuppositions were the most common, emphasizing the presence of entertainment industries over individual entities. In representational strategies, collectivization was the most frequently employed strategy signifying that sex workers were frequently referred to as a collectivized group as in massage parlor and entertainment venues. This collectivization implies that sex workers in Thailand were portrayed in the news as an industry rather than as individuals, as a problematic group, and as an agent who seeks freedom and rights. These three representations suggest that negative stereotypes of sex workers prevail Thai society, resulting in social nonacceptance and legal discrimination.

The Cambodia-South Korea Relationship on Education Aid and Its Implications, 2010-2019

2025-07-07T15:45:16+07:00

The decade after 2010 marked a turning point for South Korea as a prominent emerging Asian donor nation and member of the traditional donor group exemplifying Official Development Assistance (ODA). Korea was then becoming more important and increasing its rate of aid, while Cambodia was among the leading countries receiving Korean aid. This research analyzed conditions and implications of Korean educational aid to Cambodia in the 2010s. Mixed-methods research was done with statistical data gathered from the Cambodian ODA database, document analysis, and in-depth interviews with policy and practice stakeholders. Results were the following: 1) Korea was one of the top donors to Cambodia, ranking eighth out of 25 providers and fourth in bilateral cooperation; 2) Korea provided, after study of Cambodia’s development plan and Cambodian requirements for universal education, teacher training, and response to emerging global challenges; 3) Korea initiated smart project management to ensure achieving efficiency and goals. As a former aid recipient, Korea was thought to understand Cambodia’s strong reliance on foreign educational aid. While Cambodia benefited from Korean education aid, Korea potentially expanded its product market, tourism, and investment.