Social Capital of a State-established Border Community on Thai-Cambodian Border

Abstract

This article explores social capital of a state-established border community on the Thai-Cambodian border in Thai Romyen community (pseudonym), Chanthopphet sub-district, Ban Kruat district, Buriram province, It aims to study the conditions and contexts influencing use of social capital in the practices of the community. It applies qualitative methodology based on the phenomenology and life-history approach. Data was collected through interviewing key informants, including household representatives and staff of both government and private sector and life-history of those migrated to settle in the area. The study found that the people use of social capital of migration to the area, migrants used the networks of relatives and people of the same homeland; as a means of communicating and giving information Thai-Cambodian Self-Defense Village Project era, the community used the new social networks that expanded to other groups, such as governance and community protection networks, and social networks through marriage, to establish and maintain solidarity. In addition, social networks were an important capital in dealing and negotiating with the state so as to acquire rights relating to such issues as membership in Ban Kruat Self-help Land Settlement, membership in the self-defense village of Thai-Cambodian Allocation of Land for Agriculture and Housing, as well as participating in state development activities. Thus, this reflects the use of various kinds of social capital in different context and conditions.