Journal of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University

Beyond the Years: Resilience and Social Spaces in the Digital Era

Arratee Ayuttacorn — 2025-06-27

A Conservative Welfare Regime and Social Protection for an Aging Society in Thailand

Kritsada Theerakosonphong — 2025-06-27

Healthy aging is an essential goal on the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda. With demographic changes, aging societies have become a globally significant issue. This article examines the pro-conservative welfare regime and the concept of active aging. It also analyzes the aging population, social protection, and specific characteristics of Thailand’s welfare regime. Mainstream development directions for an aging society are studied, including policies promoting employment and retirement savings, emphasizing the need for appropriate policy improvements and developments to ensure that older adults may age healthily with wellbeing.

Longevity, Well-being and Quality of Life in Thailand Compared to the OECD in the Transition to an Aged Society

Pattheera Somboonsin — 2025-06-27

The growing elderly population and increased life expectancy have led many countries to adjust retirement age policies. However, Thailand has not revised its retirement policies for over 50 years, despite significant demographic changes. Understanding elderly health is crucial for revising retirement policies, as healthier older adults can work longer, reducing public resource burdens and improving well-being.

This study aims to compare life expectancy, healthy life expectancy, and years lived in poor health among older adults in Thailand and in countries within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It also analyses the relationship between demographic, economic, and social factors and the healthy life expectancy of older adults. Using secondary data and demographic analysis, this study estimates life expectancy, healthy life expectancy, and years lived in poor health for the population aged 55–95. These estimates are further examined through regression analysis to explore the underlying statistical relationships.

Findings indicate that although Thailand has a shorter life expectancy, its elderly spend a higher proportion of life in good health. Extended retirement ages and longer working hours in OECD countries correlate with increased healthy life expectancy, suggesting similar policies could benefit Thailand. Gender disparities and socio-economic factors also influence elderly health and workforce participation. The study recommends promoting elderly labour participation, addressing gender disparities, and investing in healthcare and socio-economic infrastructure to support Thailand’s transition to a super-aged society.

Stateless Elderly, Vulnerability and Structural Violence on the Margins of Society

Teeranong Sakulsri — 2025-06-27

This article aims to examine the situation of stateless older persons in Thailand, a population group that has been largely overlooked by state policies and the social welfare system. It focuses on analyzing the structural vulnerabilities faced by this group—particularly in relation to their right to healthcare, access to public services, and absence from the civil registration system—all of which significantly affect their livelihoods and quality of life, especially in old age. The analysis is grounded in the theoretical framework of structural violence, which highlights how institutional arrangements and legal frameworks systematically marginalize individuals and obstruct their ability to live with dignity.

This study employs a documentary research method by collecting and analyzing data from academic literature, scholarly articles, government reports, and documents from international organizations, as well as relevant laws and policies concerning legal status and the rights of stateless persons. These sources are critically analyzed to reveal policy gaps and the structural impacts affecting stateless older persons.

The findings reveal that the vulnerability of stateless older persons is not solely the result of individual circumstances, but rather a product of compounded structural exclusion-legal, social, and economic—as well as systematic neglect by the welfare state. The author argues that a comprehensive literature review, combined with critical analysis of these issues, can enhance understanding of the situation and serve as a foundation for policy reconsideration and the development of targeted mechanisms to concretely uphold the human rights of stateless older persons.

Ibasho: A Relational Space among Silver Labors in Japan Urban Towns

Kanokwan Somsirivarangkool — 2025-06-27

This article presents the concept of Ibasho, or relational space, to understand the lifestyle, work, and social welfare of elderly workers in urban communities of Japan. Ibasho is an ideological movement about creating quasi-public spaces. This kind of area was missing during the modernization process of Japanese cities. Social and economic risks at the end of the last century primarily affected individuals who were affiliated with work organizations or families. These individuals became silver workers who continued to work even after reaching retirement age. The conditions of the pension and health insurance system that have characteristics of welfare capitalism allow the reemployment system to enhance economic and life value for oneself and society. This article indicates that the Ibasho concept exists both in Ibasho houses and in the work of silver workers. Space and time are spent by people in the community to interact independently among different individuals' respect for Ibasho. Being able to be free is also consistent with the way of thinking about providing care and lifelong work benefits in the reemployment system supported by the Japanese government. In the case of the Silver Human Resource Center, the employment term is limited in the type and scope of work according to the needs of the neighborhood. A study of silver workers in Japanese urban communities shows that ageing is related to the social system that determines lifestyles, work, and welfare, rather than age.

Gender, Ethnicity and Lifelong Learning: Meaning and A Way to Collective Learning of Karen Older People

Maliwan Senawong — 2025-06-27

Lifelong learning for older people from ethnic minorities in highland is ignored by research and policy on lifelong learning for elderly in Thai context. This study is a qualitative research and collects data by interviewing Karen older people, in Mae Wang district, Chiang Mai province, both women and men, aged from 60 – 85 years, and focus group discussion. This study aims at exploring the meaning and guidelines of lifelong learning for Karen elderly by taking their perspective and experience into account and considering gender and ethnicity perspectives. The research findings reveal that the meaning of lifelong learning of Karen elderly is focused on collective learning for all sexes and ages with the goals for restoring, transferring and conserving Karen knowledge, which might create their collective ethnic identity. Moreover, the guidelines of lifelong learning link with a cultural concept of learning center of Karen people, mentioned in the traditional poems, which is related to the cultural context and ways of life of Karen elder people. In so doing, lifelong learning might become a condition for promoting the elders’ roles and creating social space of the elders by constructing the meaning of ethnic identity and older people’s identity.

Living Alone in Later Life: Meanings of Life and Death

Soontree Siriinntawong — 2025-06-27

This research studies the lives of older adults who live alone – whether as a matter of personal choice, or due to the loss of a spouse or family members in the later stages of life, or as a result of divorce. The research focuses on understanding the meaning of living alone in old age, how the elderly plan, manage, and take care of themselves in their final years, and their perspectives on death. This study is framed using sociological and anthropological concepts and employs an ethnographic methodology, using in-depth interviews and participant observation in the daily lives of 15 older adults living alone in urban Chiang Mai and its surrounding districts such as Mae Rim and Doi Saket. The participants are diverse in terms of gender, social class (middle class, retired government officials, and urban poor), disability status, residential context (urban, urban poor communities, and rural areas), social status (single, divorced, or having lost all family members or partners).

This study found that living alone among elderly is closely linked to structural changes in Thai society and the economy. These changes have led to shifts in family structures, with family members increasingly migrating to work or live elsewhere. As a result, older adults must adapt to life on their own, fostering notions of self-reliance, a desire not to burden their families, and the pursuit of autonomy in shaping their own lives. Many express confidences in their ability to care for themselves until the end of life, which also informs their understandings of death and the management of their own dying process. Thus, living alone, managing one’s own life and preparing for death have become key domains in which older adults enact self-responsibility, shaped by shifting social and economic transformation. These practices inform emerging the new ethical frameworks that guide how older adults navigate the final stages of life in contemporary Thai society.

The consumption of elderly people in the northern region: Roles and Transition to Active Aging

Ittipong Thongsrikate — 2025-06-27

Research on the elderly has gained widespread interest across various disciplines, particularly in the dimensions of changing roles, power relations, and the transformation of status upon becoming elderly. This study aims to explore the consumption of elderly people in northern Thailand to promote the transition to active aging. This study employs qualitative research methodology, data collected through in-depth interviews with 72 elderly individuals across eight provinces in the northern Thailand. Data analysis was conducted using content analysis.

The study found that elderly people in northern Thailand demonstrate self-reliance and confidence in food safety, largely because they personally source and grow their ingredients or obtain them from natural environments. They utilize their indigenous wisdom and skills to prepare diverse dishes for each meal. Their dietary choices are informed by knowledge and experience deeply connected to their social context, culture, and beliefs. Furthermore, they exhibit health-promoting consumption behaviors by consuming complete meals that primarily include vegetables and fish while actively avoiding foods that might lead to illness. This approach to consumption not only fosters good health but also represents a proactive engagement that interweaves health, social participation, culture, learning, and identity formation. These elements collectively contribute to their transition into empowered older adults. While this study establishes foundational knowledge regarding elderly consumption within a specific social and cultural context, it offers valuable insights by portraying older adults as key players in transforming their image from passive objects to active aging.

From the Supernatural to AI: Revisiting Anthropological Knowledge of Aging in Contemporary Society

Nattawut Singkul — 2025-06-27

This academic article aims to explore the shifting conceptual and theoretical understandings of aging within the context of socio-cultural change. It highlights the convergence between the spiritual dimension of older adults deeply rooted in traditional socio-cultural communities and belief systems—and the modern social context where science and technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), play an increasingly prominent role in their daily lives. AI, often perceived as a quasi-supernatural force in the contemporary world, is portrayed as a human assistant, marking a transformation from traditional notions of supernatural power that once controlled human fate, to modern technologies that support and assist. This shift influences perceptions of life and health among the elderly, within a modern culture that encourages technological engagement and access. However, a key point of contention is the role of AI in elder care, which may erode ancestral bonds, family systems, and the spiritual and embodied dimensions of aging, reducing the elderly to data sets used for analyzing decline and planning care. The author seeks to revisit anthropological knowledge of aging to uncover the evolving ideas from supernatural beliefs to AI, using contemporary socio-cultural phenomena in both Thai and global contexts as illustrative examples.

Political Economy of Agroecology and Adaptive Capacity to COVID-19 of Mango Farmers in NoenMaprang District, Phitsanulok Province

Natlada Matamma — 2025-06-27

This study examines the adaptation of Thai mango farmers following the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on economic and political factors. It analyzes the quantity and value of fresh and frozen mango exports during the pandemic, emphasizing that small-scale farmers may not have benefited from these exports. The study has two primary objectives: (1) to investigate the political economy impacts on Thailand’s mango industry after COVID-19 and (2) to explore the adaptation strategies employed by mango farmers in response to these challenges.

This research adopts an anthropological perspective and employs qualitative research methods, including document analysis and interviews with seven key informants. It applies the concept of “Agroecology” as a critical framework for achieving food sovereignty by integrating diverse knowledge systems to ensure economy and environmental sustainability. Additionally, it utilizes the Marxist concept of the “metabolic rift” to analyze the interactions between capitalism and nature, which result in the increasing alienation of humans from the natural environment.

The findings reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted mango farming livelihoods, further exacerbated by government-imposed regulatory measures aimed at controlling the virus’s spread. The impacts can be categorized into two main aspects: 1) Production factors: farmers experienced environmental degradation due to shifts in cultivation practices, including soil nutrient depletion. Political economy challenges also arose, such as declining mango prices, rising production costs, supply chain disruptions, reduced income, and increasing debt. 2) Market relationships: the relationships between farmers, middlemen, and exporters (both domestic and foreign) were affected, leading to unequal market access and profitability among different groups. Although the government implemented relief measures, the distribution of aid varied across farming groups. Small-scale family farmers and kinship-based farming households often faced difficulties in accessing assistance due to eligibility constraints and bureaucratic requirements. In response, mango farmers adopted three key adaptation strategies: 1) Production adaptation: reducing production costs and utilizing bio-fermented solutions. 2) Market adaptation: expanding domestic sales, leveraging online platforms, and engaging in direct retail sales. And 3) Lifestyle adaptation: reducing household expenses, diversifying income sources, and improving financial management.

From Social Network Analysis to Actor-Network Theory: A Comparative Perspective

Phanyupha Thammawat — 2025-06-27

This paper examines the contrasting ontological and methodological foundations of Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and Social Network Analysis (SNA), two prominent frameworks for investigating social relations. While both approaches investigate networks, their core assumptions diverge significantly. ANT, rooted in Science and Technology Studies (STS), posits a heterogeneous network comprising human and non-human actants, emphasizing the agency of all elements within the assemblage. Conversely, SNA, grounded in graph theory and mathematical sociology, primarily focuses on human actors and their interactions, employing quantitative methods to analyze patterns of connections. This paper explores the historical development, core tenets, and analytical strengths and limitations of both frameworks, highlighting their contributions and potential for synergistic application in contemporary social research.

Michael Jackson to Mor Lam Stage The multiple relationships of commodification and emancipation

Chitsanupong Intarakaew — 2025-06-27

Michael Jackson's musical contributions to popular culture are distinct in terms of both song structure and performing style. He took sounds from different musical civilizations around the world and arranged them into popular music frameworks. Despite being questioned about the depth and worth of popular music culture, it has become immensely popular and mainstream in Thailand. According to social media consumption figures from 2024, the Thai aged 16 and above spent about 8 hours per day on online media. It was also discovered that TikTok is more popular than Facebook. This significant change in the Thai online social media environment demonstrates that Thai people's media consumption habits have shifted to a preference for short films. This platform's primary marketing technique is the algorithm, which facilitates the creation of online media that can generate interest based on the number of views. From 2017 to the present, songs from the Northeast have constantly ranked among the top ten Thai songs in terms of views.

The study discusses the relationship between the commodification of culture and the capitalist system. This explains the phenomenon of current Mor Lam's tremendous popularity, which has been inspired by popular music. Michael Jackson is regarded as a significant norm-setter in popular music. This study employed the music anthropology method and discovered that the shape of popular music culture was crucial in the development of contemporary Mor Lam performances. Popular music culture free of traditional frameworks allows for the integration of music cultures, creating a free space for ideas to be adapted to modern performances. It is also a venue where the public can join in Mor Lam performances. As a result, the Mor Lam stage serves as a location for release.