Papers

• Social Justice and Sustainability Integrated Measurements? A case of Extreme Poverty in Peat Forest Fire Hotspots in Indonesia Sonny Mumbunan Indonesian International Islamic University (UIII)

  A growing desire for social justice and sustainability has inspired both society and policy makers to seek ways to integrate and measure these outcomes in a meaningful way. This contribution examines a case where these outcomes are integrated through the implementation of a basic income policy to address extreme poverty (a marker of social inclusion) among a peat forest community that is critical for global climate stabilization (a marker of sustainability). The setting is a district in Southern Sumatra, Indonesia, which is globally known for its hotspots of tropical peat forest fire. The district’s categorical basic income is explored for schemes having either sustainability outcomes or no sustainability outcomes. This contribution explores two aspects: (1) how interventions are attributed to drivers and outcomes associated with social protection and sustainability, and (2) how outcomes measurement and its data are applied in a multi-sector, multi-thematic setting for social justice and sustainability. To explore these aspects, relevant indicators for social justice (individual/household, consumption/income, conditionality/targetedness) and sustainability (individual/household/village, deforestation/tree cover loss, primary/secondary peat forests) are applied. Expected implications and learning from this exercise include the following. (i) Implications on social protection and sustainability scheme design and planning with a system approach to address trade-offs and synergies of social justice and environmental sustainability and implications on its measurement (the choice of data, indicators, definition, metrics). (ii) Data governance (standard, metadata, public access) in terms of political-economic (dis)incentives that fosters/hinders data integration (for outcome indicator) and data integrity (in/for measurement). (iii) Reflections on indicators, measurements of progress, and notably on the nature of its integration from the context of Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand) predisposed to extreme poverty and forest fires as well as in search of transformative policies for sustainability.

• The need for the combination of quantitative and qualitative assessment: Lesson learned from the development of the Thailand Social Justice Index Sayamol Charoenratana Human Security and Equality Research Unit, CUSRI, Chulalongkorn University

  Because of the lack of a collective social justice vision, the statistical measurement of the progress of inequality reduction initiatives is negligent from policies and the country’s development scheme. The purpose of this study is to explore Thailand’s social justice level. The research methodology adopted Bertelsmann’s social justice conceptual framework and the GAPFRAME methodology. The results are a set of 39 normalized and scaled indicators, an assessment of each social justice dimension, and the composite index summarizing the social justice statistics in a single number. There is room for improving the quality of the total Social Justice Index despite the limits of quantitative indicators because qualitative policy assessment indicators could play an important role. The deficiency of publicly and comparable databases among developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region designates the necessity of a collective society progress measurement, including just sustainable development goals.

• Evicted people of the creative city: Anthropological assessment of leaving no-one behind process in urban development Sasithorn Sinvuttaya Silpakorn University

  As Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) put a great effort into becoming a ‘creative city’, it stated strongly that developing a creative economy requires space. Since land is a significant asset resource in Thailand, especially in Bangkok, urban space development always causes the eviction of local people/communities, among them less-fortuned workers without land ownership rights. Our study aims to inspect the development process of the creative economy district in Bangkok. The main study site is the continuous space around the BMA City Hall. Anthropological methodologies involving immersion in a community and analysis of people’s interaction with their environment are applied. Based on the ‘leaving no one behind’ concept, the feasible impact of creative economy district development on disadvantaged people should be assessed. Additionally, the eviction in the name of development should be discussed. Could eviction, as a qualitative assessment, become another urban development measurement?

• Exploring Strategies and Assessment for Meaningful Youth Engagement in Building Thailand’s Future: A Case of Youth Participation in Southern Thailand’s Peace Process Niwadee Saheem Thammasat Sotthibandhu Prince of Songkla University

  Youth engagement is crucial in building future. It helps us know about societal progress especially in conflict-prone society. However, youth are often excluded from decision-making and implementation processes. There are several barriers and challenges that limit youth involvement, such as limited access to information, representation in decision-making, funding, mentorship, networks, skills, and opportunities. Our study aims to explore strategies and assessment for meaningful youth engagement in Southern Thailand’s peace process. The research employed a mixed methods approach. Data were selected from the Peace Survey, a public opinion survey regarding the peace process in Southern Thailand, conducted during Phases 1 through 5. The study specifically focused on samples aged between 18 and 24, totaling 658 respondents, to analyze the factors influencing the perspectives of the new generation towards their engagement in the peace process. Furthermore, in-depth interviews were conducted with experts in the field, and focus group discussions with some youth groups and youth leaders in the area. The findings illuminate the factors influencing their perspectives: educational backgrounds, occupations, experiences with violent conflict incidents, views on the root causes and resolution. Therefore, in order to further support youth involvement, deeper understanding of their values, attitudes, hopes, dreams, and life goals should be in consideration. Furthermore, their life context of Thailand’s socio-cultural transition in which they have grown also play a role.

• Navigating Sustainability: Collaborative Governance for Socio-Environmental Progress in Map Ta Phut, Thailand Suwida Nuamcharoen Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University

  This qualitative research explores the challenges encountered in achieving societal progress in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, a region where rapid industrial development has led to significant environmental degradation and adverse health effects on local communities. Initially prioritizing economic growth, the government was compelled to address environmental concerns following legal actions from residents and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). However, the inherent conflict between economic interests and environmental protection remains unresolved. The study employs a case study approach, primarily analyzing official reports and news related to the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in Rayong Province, Thailand. Furthermore, it investigates the utilization of collaborative governance within the Emergency Incident Command Center (EIC) of Map Ta Put Municipality as a case study, aiming to address pressing issues. The article contends that collaborative governance, engaging diverse stakeholders such as government entities, businesses, NGOs, and local communities, presents a promising avenue for achieving sustainable progress. By critiquing past top-down approaches and emphasizing social justice and environmental sustainability, the research advocates for collaborative governance as a strategic recommendation to foster a more equitable and environmentally conscious future for Map Ta Phut.

Abstract