Journal of Contemporary Social Sciences and Humanities

Thailand’s Geopolitical Power and Shaping of its Foreign Policy during the Third Indochina War

Chatchanok Thaohirun — 2025-08-15

Geopolitics has become an important part of the study of international relations. Within that field of study is the concept of geopolitical power and the Rimland theory. This study utilizes the two forms of geopolitical power, land-power and sea-power, and the Rimland theory in analyzing how geopolitics affects foreign policy through the examination of Thailand’s foreign policy actions during the Third Indochina War to determine what Thailand’s geopolitical power was/is and to determine the connection between foreign policy and geopolitical power. This study utilized a secondary source, supported by semi-structured interviews with diplomatic officials with experience in foreign policy, to lend insight into the foreign policy actions. The study affirms that there is a connection between foreign policy and geopolitics, both negative and positive, in the construction of the national power required to conduct wider foreign policy choices. The study concluded that Thailand leaned towards being a sea-power, but could not be categorized as one, highlighting the need for a hybrid geopolitical power categorization. The implications of such are a more accurate categorization of insular countries within the Rimland theory, and supporting the explanation of the power potential and importance of these countries in geopolitics.

Data Science in Policing in Thailand: Challenges and Future Directions – A Review From International Perspectives

Phirapat Mangkhalasiri — 2025-08-15

Data science has become an essential element in contemporary policing, offering tools to enhance crime prevention, improve resource allocation, and strengthen decision-making. In Thailand, however, the integration of data science into policing is still in its early stages, characterised by fragmented initiatives and limited strategic direction. This article examines the current state of data science in Thai policing through a critical review of international practices and conceptual frameworks. Drawing from examples in the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, it highlights how different governance models have shaped the adoption of predictive analytics, algorithmic tools, and evidence-based policing. While Thailand has made initial progress in developing digital crime databases and surveillance systems, efforts remain inconsistent and lack overarching coordination and ethical oversight. The article identifies both opportunities – such as enhanced inter-agency collaboration and data-driven resource deployment – and challenges, including infrastructural fragmentation, ethical risks, and institutional resistance. It concludes with a set of policy recommendations for the Thai government, including the creation of a national framework, investment in research-led training, ethical regulation of surveillance technologies, and stronger partnerships with academia and civil society. The article argues for a locally grounded, balanced approach to data-informed policing that prioritises effectiveness, legitimacy, and public trust.

Enhancement of Justice System Interventions for High-Risk Violent Psychiatric Patients

Aranee Vivatthanaporn — 2025-08-15

This research aims to investigate problems in the Thai justice system’s operations concerning psychiatric patients at high risk of committing violence and develop appropriate and effective operational strategies. The study employed document analysis and in-depth interviews with eighteen key informants. Additionally, a focus group discussion was held with six participants from professional groups.

The research identified several issues within the Thai justice system, categorized into four key areas: 1) Manpower including a shortage of correctional and police officers, a lack of medical professionals with relevant expertise, overburdened staff, inadequate understanding among relatives and the public, and insufficient knowledgeable justice personnel; 2) Insufficient budget (Money); 3) Materials: insufficient inpatient bed capacity due to the limited number of psychiatric hospitals in Thailand, along with a shortage of vehicles, ambulances, and essential operational equipment; and 4) Management: prolonged justice system procedures and treatment duration, limited inter-agency collaboration, inefficiencies in referral and follow-up systems, absence of a dedicated responsible agency, legal constraints hindering law enforcement operations, and lack of data integration and a unified patient information platform.

To enhance the effectiveness of the Thai justice system operations, the research recommended: 1) expanding medical and justice system personnel, including psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, forensic psychiatric nurses, psychologists, social workers, and related professionals; 2) promoting accurate knowledge of psychiatric patient care among society, communities, and families; 3) promoting accurate knowledge of psychiatric patient care among related personnel; 4) promoting inter-agency collaboration or a collaborative network involving external government and private agencies; 5) establishing an organization specifically responsible for psychiatric patient care to enhance the effectiveness of treatment and the judicial process; 6) streamlining procedures for handling psychiatric patients; 7) improving the sufficiency of bed capacity for psychiatric patients; and 8) increasing budget allocation for relevant agencies.

The Impact of Old Age Pension on Subjective Well-being: Evidence from Thailand

Yada Wornyordphan — 2025-08-15

In this study, an analysis was conducted on the impact of old age pension on subjective well-being in Thailand for those aged 60 and over. Data was obtained from the Health, Aging, and Retirement in Thailand (HART) survey for the 2015 and 2020 waves. A random-effects ordered logit model was employed as the primary method due to the panel structure of the data, while the ordered logit model was used as an alternative methodology. The results indicated that the old age pension has a minimal impact on subjective well-being, relative to other non-financial factors. Other variables such as age, marital status, residential area, region, health status, and income perception tend to have stronger impacts on subjective well-being. Subjective well-being decreases with age. Marriage, living in urban areas, better health status, and higher perception of income are associated with improved subjective well-being. Interestingly, the findings from this study also demonstrate regional differences in subjective well-being.

The Role of Clean Energy and Clean Transportation in Mitigating Climate Change: A Case Study of BTS Skytrain in Bangkok, Thailand

Cara Sasa Trirat — 2025-08-15

This research paper examines the vital role of clean energy in mitigating climate change, with a focus on the BTS Skytrain system in Bangkok, Thailand. By analyzing this prominent clean transportation infrastructure, the study aims to identify both challenges and opportunities for integrating renewable energy sources into public transit networks. The objectives are to assess how the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) contributes to climate change mitigation and to evaluate the effects of clean energy and transportation policies in the city. The researcher conducted interviews with six participants: three BTS personnel and three government officials specializing in energy, climate, and transportation. Findings reveal that the BTS is Thailand’s first carbon-neutral rail service, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions through electric-powered operations. The BTS supports the government sustainability goals and promotes clean mobility, playing a crucial role in Thailand’s transition to carbon neutrality by 2050. Moreover, the study highlights that clean energy and transportation policies in Bangkok are essential for combating climate change by reducing emissions and enhancing energy efficiency. These policies facilitate the adoption of renewable energy and electric vehicles, improving air quality and public health. Ultimately, Thailand’s initiatives align with global efforts, demonstrating significant progress toward achieving carbon neutrality and fostering sustainable urban development.

Art-Led Approach to Intangible Heritage Education: Wooden Boat Craftsmanship in Ayutthaya

Parisa Musigakama — 2025-08-15

Ayutthaya, historically a vibrant port city, preserves the intangible heritage of wooden boat craftsmanship; however, this tradition faces challenges in its intergenerational transmission in the modern era. As young people’s lives become increasingly disconnected from wooden boats, the education system provides limited opportunities for engagement with this heritage. In response, this research investigates approaches for integrating contemporary educational practices with heritage conservation strategies. The study employs participatory, art-led methodologies to foster awareness and cultivate youth engagement in preserving this traditional craft. Conducted with 25 upper primary students from Wat Phanan Choeng School, it involved field visits to Sri Charoen Shipyard, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya’s oldest and only remaining shipyard that still employs traditional techniques, along with drawing exercises and questionnaires. Findings indicate that art-led activities effectively mediated students’ limited interaction with rivers and boats, fostering curiosity and enhancing appreciation for Ayutthaya’s identity as a “City of Water.” Recurring elements in their drawings included boats, water, and cultural landmarks, with Krachaeng boats prominently featured. Despite having limited prior familiarity with the shipyard, participants developed a sustained interest in wooden boat craftsmanship and envisioned their role in its future conservation. This study underscores the transformative potential of integrating creative and experiential pedagogies into heritage education, advocating for sustained academic-community partnerships to safeguard the continuity of traditional knowledge and skills.

Research on the Inheritance and Dissemination of Hakka Culture in the Digital Age: A Case Study of Fujian’s Shen Yuan Tulou

Lin JieRu — 2025-08-15

This study explores the inheritance and dissemination of Hakka culture in the context of the digital era, taking Fujian Shen Yuan Tulou as a case study. The study analyses the philosophical connotation of Hakka culture, especially the influence of Taoism’s ‘unity of heaven and mankind’ and Confucianism’s ‘people-oriented’ concepts on Tulou culture. Through the literature review, the historical origins, architectural features of Hakka culture, and its application in digital preservation are examined. A digital design scheme using 3D modelling, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies is proposed, aiming to provide an immersive experience for tourists and enhance the interest of the younger generation in Hakka culture. The results of the study show that digital technology can effectively promote the global dissemination and preservation of Hakka culture and provide a new path for the sustainable development of traditional culture. This paper innovatively combines the philosophical nature of Hakka culture with modern digital technology, which is of great significance to the inheritance of Hakka Tulou culture and provides a reference for the digital inheritance of traditional culture in other regions.

Evaluative Language in Op-eds: An Assessment of Attitudes and Voices toward Leni Robredo during the 2022 Philippine Elections

Mellianne L. Mangana — 2025-08-15

This study discusses how op-ed writers used their voices when evaluating former Vice President Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo (Leni) during the May 2022 Philippine elections. A total of 34 English op-eds were gathered from four prominent online newspapers in the Philippines: Inquirer.net, The Manila Bulletin, Philstar.com, and The Manila Times. The op-eds were analyzed using the Appraisal System Framework and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). Writers use positive and negative judgments, appreciations, and affects to position readers toward specific ideological positions. Writers employ positive, explicit evaluative language when assessing Leni’s capacity, while negative, implicit attitudinal evaluations and amplification and softening grading devices can influence readers’ negative views of her campaign. These implicit attitudes can elicit emotional responses from readers’ cultural frameworks, affecting the public’s perspective of the presidential candidate. The op-eds feature authoritative monoglossic (single) and modalized heteroglossic (multiple) voices to present and reject viewpoints. Readers are engaged to recognize or entertain other diverse perspectives by attributing evaluative language, but Leni and her campaign efforts are negated to position the reader negatively. The study suggests that understanding the underlying evaluative language can assist reader voters in forming opinions and navigating the intricate influences of the media landscape, particularly in political discourse. It is suggested that the Appraisal System Framework could be beneficial for critically assessing evaluative language, evaluating political candidates, making informed voting decisions, and becoming socially active citizens.

Editor's Note

Thamavit Terdudomtham — 2025-08-15

The JCSH continues to focus on publishing research works on various contemporary issues in social sciences and humanities. In this issue, we are delighted to present eight (8) research articles from various academic disciplines. In addition, these articles are related to several Asian countries.

In the first article, Chatchanok Thaohirun and Nutthathirataa Withitwinyuchon studied the causal relationship between foreign policy and geopolitics, using a case study of Thailand during the Third Indochina War. The authors affirmed that there was a connection between foreign policy and geopolitics. Based on sea-power, land-power concepts and Rimland theory, the authors concluded that Thailand was neither a land power nor a sea power. In addition, the authors proposed the idea of a hybrid geopolitical power to explain Thai foreign policy.

In the second article, Phirapat Mangkhalasiri and Krisanaphong Poothakool examined the current state of data science in Thai policing by comparing it with examples in the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan. The authors identified both opportunities and challenges that influenced how data science could be used within Thai policing. In addition, the authors proposed a set of policy recommendations for the Thai government.