Thailand's society in crisis: How structural illness is crushing us

Thailand's society in crisis: How structural illness is crushing us

In recent years, Thailand has struggled with a variety of challenges that impact the daily lives of citizens. Dr. In his latest article, Suwit Masinthree addresses the social problems that many Thais feel today. According to Gabor Maté, whom he quotes, many people in Thailand feel stressed, exhausted and isolated. But the problem is not just with the individual, but is the result of a sick system that ignores its own wounds. Maté describes contemporary civilization as characterized by “structural illness,” with Thailand standing out as a particularly striking example.

Economic conditions play a central role. High costs of living, stagnating incomes and high debt burdens are increasingly putting pressure on the population. Social acceptance of inequality leads to injustices being viewed as normal, which increases community suffering. Deep-rooted distrust of the state is also a major obstacle. The citizen collectively experiences the trauma of fraud and corruption, which leads to further eroding trust in government institutions.

The challenge of structural diseases

In a competitive culture, people are conditioned to fight for survival. This mentality contributes to a loss of compassion and solidarity with one another. Institutions often promote “structural illnesses,” which can be felt in the family, in the education system and in the political sphere. The family structural strains suppress individual growth, the education system is highly competitive but is losing importance and a hopeless young generation is emerging. According to Dr. According to Suwit, “moral-psychological resilience” is required in order to get closer to a “principled state”.

To achieve change, resilience is important on three levels: individuals must learn to cope with stress, communities should create safe spaces, and institutions must move from control to support. To bring about real change, society must stop lying to itself that current conditions are normal. This healing is not just political, it concerns the social soul of the country and the revival of Thai civilization.

The challenges facing Thailand have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions. As the World Bank in its update on the Thailand 2024 Systematic Country Diagnostic, the need for reform remains unchanged while new challenges and opportunities emerge.

Future perspectives and reform priorities

Despite the difficulties, Thailand shows some macroeconomic and financial stability. Economic growth has increased in 2022 and 2023, but remains lagging compared to its ASEAN neighbors. Factors such as weak global tourism, reduced investment, falling productivity and an aging population are significantly slowing economic growth.

The World Bank identifies five key priorities for revitalizing Thailand by 2037:

• Stärkung des Humankapitals: Bildungsausgaben optimieren, die Erwerbsbeteiligung von Frauen und älteren Personen verbessern.
• Wettbewerbsfähige und innovative Wirtschaft: Technologische Wettbewerbsfähigkeit erhöhen, Regeln stärken und kleine sowie mittlere Unternehmen unterstützen.
• Niedrigkohlenstoff- und resiliente urbane Entwicklung: Infrastruktur in Sekundärstädten verbessern und auf klimatische Auswirkungen Rücksicht nehmen.
• Nachhaltige Entwicklung: Verantwortungsbewussten Tourismus und nachhaltige landwirtschaftliche Praktiken fördern.
• Stärkung der Institutionen: Inklusive, rechenschaftspflichtige und transparente öffentliche Dienstleistungen verbessern.

Challenges such as insufficient human capital, a backward economy and environmental degradation must be urgently addressed to achieve a positive turnaround for Thai society. Only through a fundamental rethink and courageous reforms can Thailand move towards a prosperous future.