Abstract
Since 2016, the Thai Government has pursued a twenty-year national economic growth policy, Thailand 4.0, promoting innovation and stimulating international investment through the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project. The EEC project involves significant land acquisition resulting in the need to relocate villagers with potential impact on food security in a major food production area. This research explored the concerns of a local farming community regarding the potential loss of their farmland and means of livelihood under the EEC project using a case study in Ban Pho District of Chachoengsao (CCS) province. It described their resulting action to protect their farmland using community organizing. Data was collected through documents, observation and semi-structured interviews of key stakeholders. The results demonstrate the role of social capital in community organizing. We contend that high social capital stock is a necessary precursor to create conditions for community members to take steps to defend and protect their interests. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of social capital in community organizing in cases involving natural resource management.
Highlights
National governments implement policies to generate and sustain economic growth and development by increasing productivity and improving the social and political wellbeing of their nation
One participant stated: “The positive aspect of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) projects is that people in CCS will not need look for work far away from home such as Bangkok because the industrial sectors will come here
One participant stated that while the EEC projects might be beneficial to young adults and those with education, this might not be the case for older adults and persons with no training
Summary
National governments implement policies to generate and sustain economic growth and development by increasing productivity and improving the social and political wellbeing of their nation. To increase economic performance and growth [2] of the country, the Thai Government has, since 2016, pursued a national economic growth policy aimed at stimulating international investments by promoting technology and innovation expected to provide economic benefits to the Thai economy through the construction of infrastructure such as roads, high-speed railway, and power plants in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). These projects involve significant land acquisitions, which often result in the relocation of villagers and impact on their means of livelihood and social wellbeing
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