Journal of Asia Social Science Studies

Impacts of Cultural Tourism on Local Communities in Northern Thailand

2025-09-12T08:54:00+07:00

This article aims to examine the impacts of cultural tourism on local communities in Northern Thailand from a conservative perspective. It analyzes the economic, social, and cultural effects resulting from the development of tourism in culturally rich local communities. Using qualitative analysis and data from affected communities, the study assesses the opportunities and challenges presented by cultural tourism. Economically, cultural tourism generates income and employment opportunities for local communities, contributing to effective economic development. However, income distribution remains unequal, and communities are vulnerable to fluctuations in the tourism market. Furthermore, most tourism-related jobs offer low and unstable wages, highlighting the need for skill development and strategic planning to enhance sustainability. Socially and culturally, cultural tourism promotes pride in local traditions and the preservation of heritage. Nevertheless, tourism also leads to changes that may undermine the authenticity of customs and create conflicts within communities. It affects individual identities as locals adapt to meet tourists’ expectations. These impacts require careful management to balance economic development with cultural preservation.

Integration of Modern Technology and Traditional Lifestyles for Sustainable Community Development in Vietnam

2025-10-02T07:30:41+07:00

This article examines the integration of modern technology with traditional lifestyles in Vietnamese communities from a progressive activist perspective. It analyzes the economic, social, and cultural impacts arising from the introduction of technology into traditional settings. Using qualitative methods and case studies from various Vietnamese communities, the research explores the opportunities and challenges of blending technological innovation with longstanding cultural practices. Findings indicate that technology enhances production efficiency and resource management, contributing significantly to income generation and improved quality of life. However, disparities in technology access remain prevalent, leaving some groups vulnerable to marginalization. Technological integration also influences social roles and community dynamics, sometimes leading to internal conflicts and imbalances. Culturally, technology can promote the preservation of indigenous knowledge through digital media but may also alter or diminish traditional practices. Managing this balance is critical to ensuring sustainable development while safeguarding cultural heritage. Key challenges include unequal access to technology, limited community participation, and infrastructural deficiencies. The article recommends policies focused on community involvement, capacity building, multi-sector collaboration, and infrastructure development to support equitable and sustainable integration of technology with traditional lifestyles in Vietnam.

Impacts of Economic Transformation in China on Social and Cultural Changes

2025-10-30T08:03:08+07:00

Abstract

This article aims to examine the impacts of economic transformation in China since the 1980s on the country’s social and cultural changes, from a liberal perspective emphasizing individual freedom, equality, and cultural diversity. The study employs theoretical analysis and synthesis of existing research to provide a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the phenomena.Findings reveal that China’s economic reforms and opening-up policies have led to rapid economic growth and structural shifts, particularly the expansion of industry and urbanization. These changes have significantly influenced family structures, migration patterns, and gender roles within society (Naughton, 2007; Yan, 2010). The urbanization process has created a new middle class and increased social diversity, yet it has also exacerbated inequalities and vulnerabilities among certain population groups.Culturally, economic transformation has altered values and lifestyles, with a growing adoption of consumer culture and modern technologies, while efforts to preserve and revitalize local traditions remain important to maintain cultural identity (Zhao, 2014). The tension between old and new cultural forms has generated identity crises that require comprehensive policies and measures for resolution.The article recommends policy approaches that promote social equality, preserve cultural diversity, and enhance individual freedoms, while supporting community participation and developing flexible social welfare systems to facilitate balanced and sustainable social and cultural transformations in contemporary China.

The Geopolitics of Crime: Analyzing the Role of Thai-Myanmar Security Policy in the Emergence and Expansion of Transnational Call Center Gangs

2025-12-01T18:42:05+07:00

This research article examines the relationship between the national security policies of Thailand and Myanmar and the emergence and expansion of transnational call center scam syndicates. Drawing on the concept of the “geopolitics of crime,” the study conceptualizes borderlands not merely as state peripheries but as contested zones of overlapping authority, interests, and shadow governance. Utilizing qualitative methodology, the research incorporates policy analysis, documentary review, and in-depth interviews with experts and stakeholders in the Thai–Myanmar border region. Findings reveal that (1) the security policies of both states inadvertently contribute to the creation of grey zones conducive to illicit activities. Thailand’s “buffer-zone approach” and Myanmar’s “state-within-a-state” governance model have enabled the entrenchment of criminal infrastructure; (2) local power groups—including ethnic armed leaders, state officials, and grey capital investors—play critical roles in facilitating and benefiting from call center networks as part of a parallel economic system; and (3) sustainable solutions require structural reforms in Thailand’s national security framework, including rethinking strategic assumptions, enhancing transparency, and adopting a people-centered border governance model. The article recommends that Thailand move toward an “accountability-based border administration,” supported by internal audit mechanisms, geospatial criminal intelligence, and multilateral security cooperation with neighboring countries. Such reforms aim to transform border regions from zones of organized crime into spaces of justice, security, and inclusive development.