การเมืองชาติพันธุ์ในชีวิตประจำวันของชาวผู้ไทเรณูในบริบทอีสานแบบภูมิภาคนิยม

Abstract

This thesis is a study of the Phu-Tai ethnicity in northeastern Thailand. It began with perceptions and ethnicity studies of Isaan, which showed that they are all Lao. In this way, the Lao identity emerged from global political and historical conflicts (or occurred from imperialism to the Cold War). This political dynamic shaped the formation of Lao-Isaan. Therefore, Isaan is considered a unity of ethnic identity that demonstrated great regional consciousness; however, regional identity became a barrier for an ambiguous Isaan ethnic identity in several ways. This study demonstrates the storytelling of other Isaan, which is of Phu-Tai Renunakhon ethnicity. They have a strong social dynamic and engage with other societies in a variety of situations. I used ethnicity and practice in everyday life concept to help me comprehend ethnic relationships in a wide range of ways. To illustrate ethnic actor diversity and tension between relationship and power polarity or social units that are full of ethnic circumstances. According to the study, the history of the Phu-Tai Renunakhon ethnicity differs from that of other northeastern ethnicities. They establish ethnic power by relying on Siamese royalty. The relationship between the governor of Phu-Tai and the King of Bangkok is not only one of conflict but also of good ethnicity that respects Siamese royalty. In this way, the Isaan political system is not united. Even though some Isaan groups resist the state, the minority of Phu-Tai integrates into governmental power to maintain their legitimacy or ethnic authority. However, the establishment of Phu-Tai ethnicity under state ideology based on the traditional localism notion demonstrates an ethnic representation including a macro-social structure that displays only beautiful ethnic cultures. While there is no political, gender, or class conflict. According to the findings of this fieldwork, there is not only internal political conflict, that is, the conflict between the center of Phu-Tai Renunakhon ethnicity and the Communist community on the periphery, but also cultural conflict. Meanwhile, the mainstream Isaan youth has a unilinear pattern based on a representation of rural Tai-Ban Isaan youth who resist modernity, whereas the Phu-Tai ethnic youth excellently shows the combination of local and modern culture. In this way, they are their youthful selves in terms of ethnicity in northeastern Thailand, indicating “otherness” from today's established image of Isaan teenagers. Similar to gender issues, it was discovered that the relationship between gays occurs under ethnic development for tourism. It is not only the negotiation of social space that has become the essential approach that has formed in Isaan society, but also gender conflicts that have arisen in the specific ethnic background, demonstrating the dependency on economic benefits. In this sense, an alternative gender not only completes the gender identity negotiation to make a sexuality viewpoint but also indicates the use of gender identity as a method for gaining advantages. Additionally, I discovered that “Isaan identity” is regarded as Lao ethnicity on a regional, political, and cultural level. It provides a socially holistic representation. The study of Phu-Tai Renunakhon ethnicity reflects different “views” of their Isaan ethnic identity, which have a range of actors, both collective and individual, as well as class, occupation, generation, and gender distinctions. It also depicts internal political conflict, cultural complexities, and the beneficial negotiation of alternative gender. As a result, Isaan does not have a Lao or similar ethnic identity. However, it is a multi-ethnic space, where there are political and cultural dynamics.