Embracing the Global in Thailand: Activism and Pragmatism in an Era of Deagrarianization

Abstract Today, few “farmers” in Thailand rely solely on agriculture to meet their needs. Rural households are dividing their time between farm and nonfarm activities, constructing livelihoods that are increasingly hybrid, both spatially and sectorally. Many of the new opportunities also have an important “global” element. This paper contends that embracing the global is essential for many households who are land-short, farming-shy and consumption-inclined. This offers the prospect of a profound shift in the trajectory of rural change in Thailand as these processes intersect.

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