Cultural Analysis

Cultural Suicide in Thai Society

Srisakra Vallibhotama

Translated by Pornnalat Phachyakorn

Overview

Cultural suicide is an anthropological term referring to human activities that cause moral destruction, dehumanization, social and cultural extinctions. This article provides a cultural analysis on self-destructive cultural behaviors of Thai people.

Thailand has long faced substance abuse problems despite every government’s attempts to control and eradicate the use and sale of addictive drugs. A ban on opium under Premier Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat led to a rise in heroin use and later followed by a widespread use of other illegal substances. Drug use has spread to various occupations and different generations. The problems can be linked to massive social changes as Thailand has transitioned from a traditional agrarian society to industrial capitalism. Family members move from rural communities into towns and cities to seek work, resulting in a broken home and a collapse of local customs and traditions. While the traditional rural society is gradually disappearing, Thais continue to inherit a national habit of favoring authoritarianism which is a root cause of law violations in Thai society.

Gambling is considered a part of Thai culture that comes in both legal and illegal forms such as lottery, trading business stocks, betting on cockfights and football games. The industrial society in the globalized world also brings about the serious and growing problem of gaming disorder in children and teenagers.

The endemic corruption among public officials at all levels has obstructed the government’s efforts to control illicit substances which impact Thai youth. Teens who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol are more likely to engage in early sexual involvement and sexual risk-taking behaviors which can lead to many social problems. The declining of moral values among Thai youth is worrying as they are the future of the country.

Violent crimes related to drug and gambling addictions are happening daily and rapidly increasing that they have become ‘the new normal’ in Thailand. It can be said that drug abuse and gambling contribute to cultural suicide that leads to demoralization and dehumanization in Thai society.