ทุนทางสังคมและความสัมพันธ์ทางชาติพันธุ์ของชาวจีนก๊กมินตั๋งบนดอยแม่สลอง

Abstract

The research on The Social Capital and Ethnic Relations of the Chinese Kuomintang at Doi Mae Salong aims to analyse the evolution of social networks within this community and to analyse the process of capital accumulation among its members situated in Santikhiri Village, Mae Salong District, Chiang Rai Province. Employing a conceptual framework that accentuates the facets of capital and the interconnectivity of social relationships, this research employs a mixed-method methodology comprising document analysis, focus group discussions, participant observation, and key informant interviews with resident Chinese Kuomintang individuals in Doi Mae Salong. The findings of this study shown that the Chinese Kuomintang has fostered a robust social network embedded under the Thai state, bolstered by support from Taiwan and China, thereby fostering distinct trajectories of capital accumulation across different generations of the Chinese Kuomintang. The first generation laid the groundwork for social capital, prioritising intra-group solidarity. The second generation extended their social networks externally, engaging with entities in Taiwan, Thailand, and China, thereby catalysing the conversion of social and cultural capital into economic assets. Furthermore, interactions with diverse ethnic groups facilitated the exchange of traditions and cultural practices. The third generation, through a process of socialisation, has achieved deeper integration into Thai society while becomimg more Thai. Furthermore, the research found that the Chinese Kuomintang accrued three principal forms of social capital: cultural capital, economic capital, and social capital. The first generation amassed capital primarily in the form of land and commenced agricultural endeavors. The second generation received support in education, agriculture, and tourism from organizations from Taiwan, augmenting their capital accumulation. Additionally, interactions with the Akha ethnic group facilitated the establishment of social networks and spurred tourism development, thereby facilitating the conversion of cultural capital into economic assets and fostering economic growth. For the third generation of the Kuomintang, the majority relocated to urban centers in pursuit of educational and work opportunities, enabling them to amass greater capital than would have been feasible within Mae Salong.