Examine the impact of cultural diffusion on oneindigenous 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.