The movement then must be alert of these elements, some of which are not supportive to equitable civic relationships, and quick to respond to mood and thinking of the people. It must be immersed in participatory learning process, both laterally and horizontally, and there must be ability to synthesize knowledge from communities. Whenever knowledge is gained, exchanges and documentation are required. Where knowledge is missing, the gap must be filled.
(3) Pushing the state to support and foster civil society
This group of academics believe that the economic crisis may lead to better relations between the state and the people, and turn the state into supporters of the people in accordance with the new concept, creating support systems that open economic space and promote initiatives and creativity among local people which is more meaningful than just talking about participation and power decentralization. Emphasis must be placed on diminishing role of the state as administrator and babysitter-mentor of the people and the greater role of local organizations or NPOs.
(4) Learning from the work of civic movement and its network
While all parties seem to agree that the main component of civil society is both a learning process and a learning society. Civic movement is not just about actions but also about working for a society that requires concepts and strategies. The objectives of civil society, for instance, should not be that of fulfilling old concepts for benefits of the capitalist system and consumerism. More attention has to be paid then to working techniques, institutions, learning and research process, the media, self-monitoring and evaluation than in the past. Civic movement must be proactive, ready to adjust to this fast changing world and to be tested by the dynamics of globalization.
Concerning research and development, topics suggested by the academics include:
・Group formation culture, organizational management and conflict resolution
・In-depth studies of development issues, such as AIDS and environmental degradation, taken up by contemporary civic movement
・Ideas of civil society and the state in Buddhism
・Legislation that foster or hinder civil society
・The concept of civic virtue
・Various problems of education for citizenship
・Gender equality, violence against women and role of women in Thai society
・Role and development of the mass media at local and national level
Notes
1 Paiboon Wattanasiritham is currently Chairperson of the Community Organizations Development
Institute (CODI) and Chairperson of the Foundation for Thai Development Fund (TDF).
2 Gawin Chutima is currently an Associate Director of TDF.
3 Lester M. Salamon et al (1999: 2)
4 Ibid, p.3
5 Ibid, p.4
6 Ibid, p.5
7 The nonprofit sector in Thailand is now being a subject of research by Chulalongkorn University
Social Research Institute (CUSRI) as a part of the third phase of the Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project. The research funded by Thailand Research Fund will be the most comprehensive study of civil society sector in Thailand. It is expected to be completed in July 2001 and provide an updated and more accurate information about Thai NPOs in details than presented in this section of this paper.
8 See Amara (1999) and Nisada (2000). A need assessment survey of Thai CSROs is now also being
conducted by TDF as a part of the Synergos Institute's CSRO Project covering Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.
9 Nisada (2000:1); Amara (1999: 3)
10 Anuchart, Arporn and Pirapat (1999) count them as a kind of CSO.
11 Khane (1993)
12 Anuchart and Kritaya (1999, p.289)
13 Compiled from Nisada (2000, p.3-4) and Amara (1999)
14 Somkit (1997)
15 Jaturong (1999)
