Critique of the Development Ideology in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Plan in Thailand

Abstract

       The purposes of this research were to explore contexts and ideologies as well as to express ideological criticism toward the Eastern Economic Corridor Development Plan.This qualitative research employed two methods of inquiry namely: methodology of political economy and critical discourse analysis. The data collection was based on documentary research and in-depth interview. The results showed that the context of developing Thailand has followed the first national economic social development plan, dominant development paradigm, and strategy for economic growth based on industrial development as a key driving force.Similarly, the Eastern Economic Corridor Development Plan has been conducted using the same methods with the change of development strategy by adding in the potential of competitiveness, and innovative value-based development. For the development ideology, the concepts of neoliberal capitalism and capital accumulation have been used for maintaining the growth of the existing capitalist economy. For the development process, the Thai government has been developing the country by using the methods of reproduction and creating the development discourse for the state’s legitimacy, legitimation, hegemony, and false consciousness under the process of industrial development.