Ponsan Rojanapanich

The Social Imaginary in Thai Society: Globalization, Cultural Dimensions and Education Ponsan Rojanapanich

This book investigates the notion of the social imaginary in relation to Thai society as influenced by the effects of globalization. Using a theoretical framework derived from Hofstede?s cultural dimensions it explores education policy and practice in Thailand with a view to understanding how the development of a new social imaginary, based on social creativity in everyday life, can be fostered through reform to curriculum, teaching methods and the reworking of traditional ways in education and social life. The results indicate that the role of the cultural dimensions power distance, individualism, and long term orientation are important in developing social imaginaries in Thai society. Furthermore, educational policies are essential and to fostering a new ways of learning to increase social creativity in Thai society. The development of new social imaginaries is bound up with the reinvention of cultural dimensions under the effects of globalization. Education is the means through which Thai young people can develop the social creativity needed to bring change and new visions for society in Thailand.