A Study of Preservation Movement for the Social and Cultural Rights of Cultural Communities and Historic Districts in Bangkok

Abstract

The objectives of this research article were 1) to review the study of cultural communities and historical districts, especially in the field of social movements to protect the right to physical space, history and communities; and 2) to analyze and present policy recommendations for management and administration of urban areas for cultural community areas and historic districts of Bangkok. It was a qualitative research by studying relevant documents and research. Under the spatial boundary, they were communities and neighborhoods in the area of Bangkok. This paper reviewed community studies and research papers in Bangkok over five decades (1977-2017), including documents and legal provisions on community and historical site management to explore the scope and area of knowledge that studied social communities and culture that existed before and analyzing the management of cultural community areas and historical districts of Bangkok. It was found that community education and research in Bangkok had study limitations from both the study area, field of interest and level of work studied. This made it difficult to push study results into policy issues. From analysis of Thai legal measures related to the management of community areas and Historic districts in Bangkok, there was a gap in the law, which was unclear definition and not diverse as well as less emphasis on community and local participation in legislation. This research proposed that policy recommendations for equitable and sustainable urban management and administration of the cultural community and historic districts of Bangkok should avoid top-down policy and approaches, and consider management and acceptance from all parties. Workflows should have prototypes or models of workflows by participants involved in a tripartite format.