Interculturalism and integration in Thailand:

An analysis based on interviews with “farang”

expatiates from English speaking countries
By

Rachawit Photiyarach

Submitted for the degree of Master of Art

University of Hamburg
Department of Southeast Asian Languages and
Cultures
 Abstract (English)

This research examines the personal perspectives of expats identified as farang who lived
between August 2014 and April 2015 in Thailand. This study is based on a qualitative
approach, using semi-structured interviews with twenty-six interviewees in the Bangkok
Metropolitan Area. The problem concerns the degree of interculturalism and integration in
Thailand from perceptions of expats identified as farang.

The results of this extensive qualitative survey are interpreted on four main areas: Social
acceptance, Thai law for foreigners, the image of farang, and integration and interculturalism
in Thailand. Here are the results that the researcher discovered from this study: 1: the reasons
for, 2: the barriers to and 3: the advice for interculturalism and integration in Thailand from
the perspectives of people identified as farang who live in Thailand.

Integration and intercultural problems of farang in Thailand

With an increasing number expats from around the world, among them many farang,
Thailand has become one of the most popular expat hubs in Southeast Asia. However, many
farang still feel that they are not accepted as a part of Thai society, even though they speak
Thai fluently and have fair knowledge of Thai culture.

Thailand has used an assimilation method to force many ethnic groups to become Thai, but
what about farang? Farang might have a harder time than Asian ethnic groups to be counted
as a part of Thai society, due to the fact that they are stereotyped by many Thais as non-Thai
or foreigners. The general belief that farang are automatically an outsider is rooted in many
Thai people’s mind. When they make a comparison between Thainess and un-Thainess,
farang will usually be classified as a non-member of Thai society.

According to the respondents, the dual price system is widely applied by many tuk tuk and
taxi drivers because they see farang or white people as a main target to rip-off because they
stereotype that all whites or farang are wealthy. In addition, the concept of Thainess (Kwam
phen Thai) is a big stumbling block to exclude farang culture, identity, and race from the
mainstream society.

A visible example of policies that make many expats to feel unwelcomed from Thai society is
the 90 day report, short-term visa status and strict residency rule. Even thought, many farang
have a Thai spouse, but they still have a difficult time gaining residency or obtaining a work
permit. The concept of farang itself also is problematic because it is used to lump all white
people together, but the fact is that there are distinct nationalities, occupations, social roles,
cultures, ethnicities, and languages among these farang people.

The reasons for integration and interculturalism in Thailand

The emerging of globalization plays a crucial role in connecting people from different race,
ethnicity, culture, and nationality together. Thailand is also a country in the world that has to
cope with race relations, ethnic conflicts, cultural clash, and identity crisis. This is because
we cannot stop the upcoming period of acculturation, transnationalism, cultural relativism,
third culture, and intercultural dialog.

Most participants in this study suggest that intercultural communication is an effective

way to overcome the stereotypes, ethnocentric beliefs, and prejudices between people from
different backgrounds. The positive sides of this social integration and intercultural relation
can be seen on a subjective level. It raises the satisfaction of Farang expats with their lives in
Thailand. In addition, when the intercultural integration of expats is encouraged, a Thai
person tends to accept farang expats as an insider of Thai society. Thailand might acquire a
higher number of expats who can contribute to Thai society on a social and cultural level.
Many Thai people would have the opportunities to have an intercultural dialog with people
from different cultural backgrounds. Expats could also interact with Thais and participate
fully in Thai society. The result of intercultural integration can help both Thais and expats
accept each other culturally and individually, and be less racially biased. At the national
level, Thailand and Thai society will benefit from becoming an intercultural country or an
integrated society to grow in the rapidly interconnected world. The racial, ethnic and cultural
conflict between each group of the society can be solved when people learn how to live with
each other in harmony.

Advice on how to build an integrated community and interculturalism in Thailand

The first advice on how to help farang to become integrated into Thai society is that The Thai
government and authorities might consider making a multiculturalism policy to empower
people from different backgrounds to obtain their right and freedom of maintaining their
original cultures, while still participating with the dominant group. In the past, various ethnic
groups in Thailand had to leave their native cultures behind to become a part of the
mainstream society. This cultural process is called assimilation. It stops people from learning
about other cultures and those who are different. On the other hand, integration is a middle
path to help bridge the gap between people from different backgrounds because it supports
the idea that allows minority to become a part of the society without fully adopts the social
norms and values of the dominant group. The majority, however, also has to be open to
differences based on race, ethnicity, and culture.

Secondly, the concepts of intercultural competence and sensitivity is suggested by

participants in this study that it can help both Thais and expats become ethnorelative and
learn about one’s another culture. Ethnocentrism is a great barrier to intercultural
communication and that is how people are bias toward each other. Creating an integrated
community to mix people from various cultural groups together might help build intercultural
relationships and mutual understandings between new comers and local people (farang and
Thais). To bridge the gap between Thai and farang, the main key is both Thais and expats
have to adjust to each other by leaving their comfort zone, ethnocentrism and become open-
minded with each other. These recommendations might be a model to help people identified
as farang become a part of Thai society and Thais can learn to interact with people from
different backgrounds.

Thirdly, mutual trust and understanding between Thais and expats is necessary for
social integration. The mutual adjustment and respect here should be from both sides. In other
words, everyone attempts to adapt to everyone else (Bennett 2004, 71). For example, Thai
people need to feel empathy to expats identified as farang and view racial stereotypes,
ethnocentrism and prejudices as negative in order to understand the society with a broader
attitude. Additionally, expats have to be open-minded to Thai people, culture and society.
Ethnocentrism might not be as common in Thai society as the respondents think. There are

ethnorelative Thais who are interested in helping expats integrate into Thai society. Mutual
understanding and respect in an intercultural dialog may lead to more successful intercultural
relations between Thais and farang expats.