Between ‘Hope’ and ‘Fear’ Society in Thailand: awareness and Alternatives for the Futures

In 2023, there were essential movements in Thai society, such as the recovery and economic impact from the past COVID-19 crisis, and the eruption of political conflicts resulting from the two decades of conflicts and coups. The campaign and general election on May 14, 2023 has resulted in people’s awareness and hope of people in society for future changes. However, the uncertainty and risks, including undesirable changes during the transition, push the people to fall into a state of despair and fear, both fear of change and unchanging. In other words, people amidst uncertainty are in a state of hope and fear. Therefore, creating a social learning process in the above situations is necessary, to raise awareness and determine their alternatives towards the future.

The mission of the Social Research Institute Chulalongkorn University is to create a body of knowledge to understand changes in society and mobilize the knowledge to drive a just and sustainable society. The annual academic seminar is a platform to disseminate our knowledge and development agenda to the public. The 2023 annual seminar, therefore, sets the topic of the seminar for understanding the situations of Hope, Fear, including raising Awareness to create alternatives for future change with the public and development partners.

Objective:

1) To exchange and co-produce knowledge and create a social learning process in uncertain situations

2) To create proposals/options for change with development and academic partners for public communication.