The Chinese Émigrés of Thailand in the Twentieth Century By Disa ...

This book shall test the validity of Chan and Tong’s assertions with new data collected from surveys distributed to 200 ethnic Chinese in Thailand. It has been found that in present-day Thailand, Chan and Tong’s main points are not valid. The data presented in this research provides empirical evidence that support the Skinnerian paradigm.

This book has designed, collected, analyzed, and presented solid empirical evidence to evaluate findings presented by previous authors (Skinner and Chan and Tong) and also provides published methodology of the most current data of the Chinese community in Thailand. While this study supports Skinner’s main hypothesis that the Chinese in Thailand generally become assimilated by the fourth generation, a different assessment on the subject of the willingness of the Chinese to assimilate is presented. This study argues that despite the Chinese’s cultural attributes that have assisted their assimilation, the Chinese displayed resistance to the Thai government’s forced assimilation policies. Through a discussion of the history of Chinese emigration to Thailand and the Thai government’s assimilation policies, I will demonstrate that the Chinese have been less willing to assimilate than argued by Skinner.

Thai assimilation policies, which include many laws such as the Immigration Law and Education Law, have forced the Chinese to develop a Thai identity, albeit a special one. However, I show that the Thai government’s assimilation policies were not the only factor that enabled the overseas Chinese to assimilate so well. Additionally, and more importantly, I argue that the Chinese people’s ability and willingness to adapt played a greater role in helping the Chinese assimilate. The Thai assimilation policies’ limitations are clearly demonstrated by the enduring “separateness” of Thailand’s other major ethnic group, the Muslims, who have protested against the many laws and regulations that they feel have threatened their religious and cultural practices. In short, my argument suggests that the Chinese emigrants’ religious beliefs, urbanity, open-mindedness, and ability to adapt have been more influential in creating a strong Thai identity than Thailand’s assimilation policies.