Rethinking Assimilation and Chineseness in Thailand

Abstract

Existing research literature on the Chinese in Thailand seems to suggest that the Chinese bear more attributes of social integration and assimilation into Thai society than of conflict.1 Skinner (1963: 1), for example, argues that a majority of the descendants of Chinese immigrants in each generation merge with Thai society and become indistinguishable from the indigenous population to the extent that fourth generation Chinese are practically non-existent. Similarly, Amyot (1972) and Ossapan (1979) suggest that the lack of formal Chinese education has led to the assimilation of the Chinese in Thailand. Other writers on the subject (see Wongswadiwat, 1973; Yuesin, 1984) have corroborated these generalized statements on the Chinese in Thailand.