Burapha Journal of Political Economy

Book Review - Hinterland: America’s New Landscape of Class and Conflict

Kampanart Benjanavee — 2023-12-30

Book Review : How to Read Ancient Philosophy

Shotisa Cousnit — 2023-12-30

Networks for Driving the Development Policy of the Special Economic Zone in the Eastern Region

Chuwong Ubalee — 2023-12-30

The research aimed to study the development and the analysis of factors contributing to the success of the development in the eastern border areas under the Special Economic Zone Development Policy. Qualitative research methods were used including documentary research and in-depth interviews. The findings of the study could be concluded that the development of the eastern border areas originated from the drafting of the Special Economic Zone Act during the government of Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra. Subsequently, the Office of the Prime Minister's regulations on special economic development zones were issued during the government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, and the establishment of the first phrase of Special Economic Development Zones in the eastern region was during the period of General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government, head of the NCPO, in Trat and Sakaeo Provinces. The factors contributing to the success of the development of the eastern border areas were the authoritarian power of the NCPO government, the use of international elite networks and the use of domestic elite networks.

Benefits Management Process and Mechanism at the Community Level in Marine and Coastal Areas with Various Economic Activities

Patcharapa Tantrajin — 2023-12-30

This article aims to: 1) collect basic data on marine economic utilization in the study area. 2) analyze the relations between stakeholders utilizing and sharing the marine economy in the same area; and 3) synthesize co-mechanisms for managing marine profits in the study communities. The research area is KohLibong subdistrict, Kantang district, Trang province.

The research study found that there are three major activities.-- fishing, tourism, and activities related to tourism and coastal, and marine resource conservation -- that coincide and are related to one another. While fishing is the main occupation, tourism, and related activities are the additional ones. Also, activities on marine resource conservation are related to fishing and tourism as they help increase circulating marine animals and promote sustainable fishing. Moreover, conservation enhances tourism which has been an important source of income for the communities. Therefore, the marine and coastal activities help support one another positively and then the benefit will mainly belong to people in the communities.

There are three mechanisms in managing benefits: 1) community management led by the network based on the community’s regulations and leaders 2) co-management between state and communities such as zoning of marine use and 3) state management through laws such as fishing laws, and land usage laws in the reserved areas.

The main driving mechanism is community cooperation that has evolved from the past marine resource conservation activities. It is a mechanism that the state has not built, but it has come from the process built together in the communities with NGOs, coordinated, and worked as a network. This provides shared learning and reduces conflict between people in the communities. Later on, it was opened to the state to join in creating coordination between the state and the community in various activities.

Transition from Dictatorship to Democracy: A Comparative Study of South Korea and Myanmar

Pairin Makcharoen — 2023-12-30

The study on “Transition from Dictatorship to Democracy: A Comparative Study of South

Korea and Myanmar” aimed to 1) Study the causes that led to the transition from dictatorship to democracy in South Korea and Myanmar, and 2) Analyze the sustainability of democracy in Myanmar. The study was conducted through a review of literature and research papers as well as relevant documents, focusing on the period up to the general election in Myanmar in 2015. The study found that 1) the causes that led to the transition from dictatorship to democracy in South Korea and Myanmar can be summarized as the modernization of the country through economic development, international and external influences, and the role of political actors. In the case of South Korea, once the transition took place, was able to establish a stable and enduring democracy, both in behavior and attitude, because political actors at all levels demonstrated confidence in the fairness of democracy and adhered to it as a form of governance. And 2) the establishment of a sustainable democracy in Myanmar could not occur because the leading group and the military remained committed to dictatorship and did not follow the path of true democracy. Although there was a government resulting from the 2015 election, it continued to govern in a liberal authoritarian manner, favoring large foreign businesses and the national elite.