Social Capital in Community Organizing for Land Protection and Food Security

Pornsiri Cheevapattananuwong, Claudia Baldwin, Athena Lathouras and Nnenna Ike
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Pornsiri Cheevapattananuwong: Sustainability Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia
Claudia Baldwin: Sustainability Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia
Athena Lathouras: School of Social Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia
Nnenna Ike: Sustainability Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia

Land, 2020, vol. 9, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: Since 2016, the Thai Government has pursued a twenty-year national economic growth policy, Thailand 4.0, promoting innovation and stimulating international investment through the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project. The EEC project involves significant land acquisition resulting in the need to relocate villagers with potential impact on food security in a major food production area. This research explored the concerns of a local farming community regarding the potential loss of their farmland and means of livelihood under the EEC project using a case study in Ban Pho District of Chachoengsao (CCS) province. It described their resulting action to protect their farmland using community organizing. Data was collected through documents, observation and semi-structured interviews of key stakeholders. The results demonstrate the role of social capital in community organizing. We contend that high social capital stock is a necessary precursor to create conditions for community members to take steps to defend and protect their interests. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of social capital in community organizing in cases involving natural resource management.

Keywords: land use; food security; social capital; community organizing; EEC Thailand; land protection; economic development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:9:y:2020:i:3:p:69-:d:326180

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