Throughout the past few years, Thailand has become more and more involved in the globalization process. For instance, they have been building up their country by adding more infrastructures, finding more agricultural techniques, receiving more access to technology, electricity, and medicine’s as well as increasing their communication throughout the country. However, though these ideas have helped the country progress forward in many aspects, the people are Thailand are not necessarily pleased about this progression due to the fact that almost all of it goes directly against Buddhist beliefs. Although, other Thai people have seen it to be extremely important, and almost necessary to ensure the country’s success and economy propers, even despite the political uncertainty in which the nation has faced in more recent years. Either way, this goes to show how much globalization has become a significant entity throughout countries such as Thailand today. In my opinion, Thailand has been putting their best foot forward in order to become more successful through their efforts of globalization as well as become more interdependent.
In other words, development and globalization in Thailand has focused mainly on rapid industrialization and urbanization which would explain why such large-scale infrastructure projects have dominated the scene over there for some time. However, I feel that the overall goal of these efforts has been to ensure rapid economic growth and to solidify Thailand’s position in the global market (hence, why achieving economic superiority has tended to be such a high aspiration for them as well as many countries surrounding Thailand). Yet, I believe in order for Thailand to achieve this ultimate goal, and ensure that their efforts do not result as a hinderance in any way, that their development strategies must continue to push for the development and adoption of new agricultural techniques, as well as increasing access to services such as improved communication and transportation across the nation, and the promotion of economic wealth.
From a more negative standpoint, I believe the economic aspirations of both the Thai government and people are in direct opposition to Buddhist beliefs. Several examples of development and globalization occurring in Thailand toady still support this statement. For example, construction of dams throughout the country has been one of the more dominant enterprises in Thai development, and with this there have been two main goals: to provide more water for irrigation purposes and to generate more electricity. However, despite these admirable intentions, most of the dams constructed have not only failed, but in fact, resulted in a decline of the overall livelihood and well-being of nearby communities. A prime example of this dam development initiative would be the Pak Mun Dam, which in this case, over 25,000 people lost their source of livelihood, work, and food as the dam obstructed fish migration, destroyed the stability of the ecosystem, and practically obliterated the surrounding environment.
Nonetheless, the situation in Thailand regarding the globalization of Thai culture through the spread of genetically modified organisms [ GMOs ] is actually quite an interesting phenomenon. To explain, as of now, genetically modified plants are not allowed outside of scientific laboratories in Thailand because, as cited by the government, Thai scientists are still not sure if these plants will engender harm to the environment or not. In fact, Thailand is the first Asian country to ban the release of genetically modified crops into the environment. However, in contrast, it has been reported that a substantial portion of cotton growers in the country have resorted to the genetically modified strain of cotton which contains toxin from the Bacillus Thuringiensis [ BT ] bacterium in their fields due to the fact they they effectively resist insects. Still, there are many other pests against the BT cotton which has proven to be no more capable of resisting insects than the traditional toxins used in years past. Yet, at any rate, reports from growers have been have been such that the quality of cotton fiber from the genetically modified strain has appeared to be less desirable than that of the traditional one. Thus, growers have had to weigh the benefits and costs of growing GM cotton, and the latter is not a dilemma facing cotton growers as it may have been previously been advertised to be. Also, on a different note, Thai government has been promoting research and development of the GM technology in order to strengthen the country’s global competitiveness. Although, the most prevalent discourse concerning GMOs in the country involves trading of the product in the world market.
This is could very well be a major hinderance to their efforts due to the fact that Buddhism has emphasized for centuries within their society that the people should be content with maintaining a simple, more practical way of life that can or should not be engulfed by global competitiveness and/or selfishness. Therefore, the urge to attain economic growth, in many Thai Buddhist eyes’, has encouraged greed, selfishness, and competitiveness due to the money-based political and economic goals that have been set which do not breed any compassion or respect for humanity (all of which are essential to Buddhist teachings). Essentially, the structure of the current global economy of Thailand has placed man against man in the race for supremacy, pushed wealth and financial improvement, resulting in a loss of community solidarity as well as a destruction of family structures throughout the nation. Moreover, my theory is, in order to reconcile development, globalization, and Buddhist morals, it is necessary to shift the goals of Thailand, ensuring that the include not only economic success, but also social, cultural, and environmental sustainability.
As such, effort must be made to look at the entire well-being of the region and addressing all aspects Thai society when implementing any type of development strategy moving forward. To be more specific, actions should not be taken with the sole objective of economic expansion, but should include the higher aspiration of equality, compassion, and empowerment of the poor rather than income-oriented goals. To me, wealth earned simply for the accumulation of more wealth or for the satiation of the ego has promoted greed throughout Thai society, and a much more noble endeavor should be used for improving the sociocultural and socioeconomic issues of inequality and injustice. In other words, wealth should be used to promote equality and sustainability based not he needs articulated by those who truly understand the negative impacts of development and globalization most: the poor. Furthermore, if development practice and globalization in Thailand can find this balance, then the harmful, unforeseen consequences of development strategies can be prevented, and more sustainable, successful development can occur.