from-isolation-to-integration-a-case-study-of-the-akha-hill-tribe-people-in-the-chiang

A masters thesis examining the integration process for Akha hill tribe people in the province of Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. The researcher explored primarily socio-political and religious factors that affect the process of integration into the majority Thai society. The findings revealed that there are important political factors that hinder integration, particularly issues related to citizenship and legal rights. Secondly, the study found a high degree of prejudice from ethnic Thai people towards tribal people. Finally, the study revealed that religious factors also have great impacts on the integration process. Practicing tribal religion and not the dominant Buddhist religion creates fractions between ethnic Thai people and tribal people. Christian activities have given many tribal children the opportunity to obtain good education, which was found to be a key factor for acceptance and enhanced integration of tribal people into Thai society.