Social Cohesion in Southern Border Provinces of Thailand

Abstract

            The study of social cohesion in the southern border provinces of Thailand aimed to measure overall social cohesion of the three southern border provinces of Thailand and test some of the factors that are likely to be associated with social cohesion. The questionnaire, which was initially developed by the European Foundation on Social Quality, and later adjusted by the Asian Consortium of Social Quality was employed to obtain the data from the samples, which were the eligible voters or those 18 years of age and above in the southern border provinces of Thailand. The procedure used was multi-stage sampling with a total number of 978. 

            The survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency and percentage, inferential statistics, the Chi-square test to prove the relationship between independent and dependent variables. From the research, we found that most people had a low level of trust, and said they needed to be very careful in dealing with people. Most of the samples said they are proud to be Thai. In addition, the aptitude towards the tension between groups in the southern border provinces, the respondents think there is tension between every groups. The research indicated that several factors significantly related to trust, including age, religion, education, the sufficiency of income, discrimination experience because of nationality, discrimination experienced because of religion, confidence in achieving higher social or economic status by themselves, and expectation of help from the government or non-government organizations. In addition, the research also found that age, religion, employment status, discrimination experienced because of religion, confidence in achieving higher social or economic status by themselves, and expectation of help from the government or non-government organizations were significantly related to the feeling of being proud to be Thai.