Examine the impact of cultural
diffusion on one
indigenous and remote society
through the influence of
international interactions.
Hill tribes – Northern Thailand
Examine the impact of cultural diffusion on one indigenous and remote society through the
influence of international interactions
Akah Hill Tribes. Northern Thailand
Location of Akah Hill Tribe, Northern Thailand
Ideas
Reduction in friction of distance, tourism, trade, aid, migration, market access, agro
industrialisation
Spontaneous migration
• Moved freely through borders
• Now restricted
• Make up 12% of population of Northern
Thailand
Akha People
• Northern Thailand
• Primarily agricultural economy – shifting
cultivation
• Language – Akha
• Population of around 400 000 in total
distributed in Thailand, Burma, Laos and China
• One of the largest hill tribes in Northern
Thailand
• Decreasing frictional effect of distance:
• Growth of tourism in Northern Thailand due
to……
• Links to Butler model
The good
• Increased access to goods e.g. transport (cars,
motorbikes)
• Access to markets for agricultural goods
• Shift towards cash crops e.g. soya beans, mangoes.
• Maintenance of cultural traits for the benefit of tourists
(dress, goods)
• Potential to improve rates of literacy at local schools.
• Increasing recognition of the issues facing indigenous
groups through increase socio cultural interactions.
The bad
• Few Akha people in Thailand are recognised as
citizens
• Enforcement of political boarders in past 100
years
• Therefore a lack of political infrastructure to
support indigenous populations
• Therefore have no rights to state education,
employment, visas.
• Not eligible for ID cards in Thailand OR Burma
• The government of Thailand has restricted
shifting cultivation leading to more sedentary
life styles
• Ecological decline threatens the Akha’s way of
life.
• A shift towards opium farming for some.