การศึกษาระบบอุปถัมภ์กับปัญหาสังคมไทย: การประยุกต์ใช้ของนักสังคมสงเคราะห์วิชาชีพ

Abstract

A large number of studies on patron – client systems were conducted under the political sciences and public administration. These studies always mention the patron – client system as significant obstacles to democracy, decentralization, market liberalization, government reform and so on. The patron – client relations, in fact, are closely connected to people lives and welfare. The studies on the patron – client relations cover global community. Many researchers confirm that although there are strong attempts to fight against the patron – client system, it yet is deeply existed in the developing societies. However, according to the recent research of three Thai scholars, they contend that Thai society is free from the patron – client system or it has never been significant feature of Thai society, in general. The study on Thai context shows the evidence of new citizenship and their social activity which moving to fulfil their social safety and security.
Social work is a profession working with people for the same sense of creating social security among the neediest. Social worker philosophical values are to promote human dignity and human rights. Therefore, social workers practice their everyday task gearing to reduce or abolish the patron – client system. Professional social workers who committed strongly to their ethical values are to do nothing but reproduce the fight against the patron – client relations.