The Role of Local People in Urban Development History: A Case Study of Bang Khun Thian District between the 1940s and the 1980s

Abstract

This research article studies the role of the local people in urban development history. A case study of Bang Khun Thian District between the decades of the 1940s and the 1980s. Most of the urban development before the 1940s that occurred came from the policies or interests of the government, lacking the local people's participation. As a result, the development that occurred was not in line with the needs of the local people and the environment. The study found that people in Bang Khun Thian District began to participate in urban development after 1932 due to the increase in the number of people receiving modern education. This made people in the Bang Khun Thian District become interested in their own local development, Later, when entering the decade of the 1960s, the era of development of Thailand, the people of Bang Khun Thian responded to the times by developing their hometown through road construction and new government offices to improve their well-being and provide more economic opportunities.