Chumchon Lang Wat Pathum Wanaram
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‘Leadership in a Bangkok Slum: An ethnography of Thai urban poor in the Lang Wat Pathum Wanaram Community’ Alan R. Johnson OCMS, Ph.D July 2006 ABSTRACT This research uses an ethnographic approach to study leadership, viewed broadly as social influence processes, in the Lang Wat Pathum Wanaram slum in Bangkok, Thailand. The purpose of the study was to develop a cultural account of how leadership is perceived and practised both within the community itself and in its broader relations with the state. Previous research on leadership in Thailand has tended to be either descriptive and lacking a theoretical base, or focused on verifying Western generated theory among highly educated subjects. This research was designed around the theoretical frameworks of attribution theory, implicit leadership theory, and cultural models, all of which are sensitive to issues of culture. Systematic data collection was used to establish baseline sociolinguistic data and then interview and participant observation data were added to establish a series of models and key concepts. The analysis explores the configurations and interrelationships of these models and concepts, and examines how they are utilized in social action. The research findings include the Thuukjai Leader Model (TLM) representing an implicit leadership theory of culturally preferred leadership in the community, the trustworthy (chuathuu) leader who exhibits a constellation of behaviours related to TLM giving and task behaviour, the Sakdi Administrative Behaviour Leadership Heuristic (SABLH) that affects both leader practice and follower perception, and the role of groups made up of primarily horizontal relations in task accomplishment. Community leaders also relate to the state, which brings both development and the forces of eviction. The community cannot simply be seen as playing the client role to the state-as-patron. Instead both a public and hidden transcript can be observed, and everyday forms of resistance are practised as state views are modified, rejected, or resisted in various forms. Leadership in a Bangkok Slum: An Ethnography of Thai Urban Poor in the Lang Wat Pathum Wanaram Community by Alan R. Johnson M.A. (Assemblies of God Theological Seminary) M.A. (Azusa Pacific University) A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Wales July 2006 Oxford Centre for Mission Studies i DECLARATION This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed _______________________________________________________ (Candidate) Date _______________________________________________________ STATEMENT 1 This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Where correction services have been used, the extent and nature of the correction is clearly marked in a footnote. Other sources are acknowledged by midnotes or footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed _______________________________________________________ (Candidate) Date _______________________________________________________ STATEMENT 2 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if approved, to be available for photocopying and for Inter-Library Loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organizations. Signed _______________________________________________________ (Candidate) Date _______________________________________________________ ii DEDICATION This thesis has a dual dedication to the two greatest influences in my life. First and foremost, this thesis is dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ. When I was not looking you found me, and all that I am today is because of your abundant grace and mercy. I started this project at your leading, and through the process I have kept before me the admonition to study for the glory of God. I offer this work and myself afresh to you for your use in your Kingdom. During the course of this research I found my strength and encouragement in the Lord, and many times his earthly vessel to deliver these gifts was my wife of 28 years. I also dedicate this thesis to you Lynette, you know better than anyone that I could not have completed this without your willingness to lend a hand in editing, your constant support, and most of all your comforting presence. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The final push to finish a thesis can be a lonely task as you cut yourself off the from the everyday world in order to have an intense and single-minded focus on writing. The picture of the solitary writer hunched over the keys obscures the reality of the host of people that create the intellectual atmosphere and stimulation that enables a dissertation to be born and thrive. I have the deepest respect and appreciation for my two supervisors, Dr Peter Clarke and Dr Suntaree Komin. They both demonstrated a passion for their disciplines and a commitment to excellence that has modelled the true meaning of a life devoted to academics. The quality and intensity of our times together showed me that supervision was not simply marking time, but a zeal for expanding understanding on a subject of interest to them and a commitment to invest in and mentor others to develop skills in research. Dr Craig Rusch served as a mentor, introduced me to the world of systematic data collection, and has become a valued friend. I have fond memories of crunching data at his house and watching basketball on TV together. Dr Ben Knighton, my OCMS mentor, was the person who kept my head on straight throughout the entire process. When I ran into a problem or was discouraged, Ben was always there with a wise word to get me back on track. He never ceased to amaze me with his ability to meticulously read my work, cut to the critical issues, and to problematize what I assumed was unproblematic. I will never write or read in the same way because of the things that I have learned under his tutelage. OCMS provided a wonderful learning environment that included enriching relationships with fellow students from around the world, and a staff always ready to spend time with us and challenge our thinking. I learned more listening to these people critique student presentations (and my own work) at the Wednesday research seminars than ever could have been gained from any classroom experience. Bernard Farr, Deryke Belshaw, David Singh, David Lumesdaine, and Damon So all brought different perspectives and insights that helped me as I developed my research and writing skills. I got so many iv interesting ideas from Bernard that I started a ‘Bernard File’ to store the pithy sayings that would emerge during a research seminar or conversation. I never would have started this project were it not for the encouragement of a number of people. Bob Houlihan has always been a door-opener in my life, he believed in my abilities long before I did. Dr Dan Elliott of Azusa Pacific University was the first person to ever suggest that I should work on doctoral research in my area of interest. Doug Petersen of Vanguard University played the role of recruiter, without his invitation I would have never been bold enough to start. I came to OCMS through a connection with Vanguard University and Dr. Roger Heuser was my first contact there in the early days of proposal work. His ready words of wisdom and encouragement always gave me hope that I could complete this project with excellence. None of this would have happened without the generous support of my organization, Assemblies of God World Missions, who granted both the approval and finances for the study. It has been a joy to work with my ‘bosses’ Russ Turney and Jeff Dove; their support made it possible for me to throw myself unreservedly into this research project. I also want to express thanks to my colleagues in the Assemblies of God Mission Fellowship,Thailand. Without their patient understanding of my absences over the past six years and willingness to shoulder their loads as well as some of mine, it would have been impossible to complete this work. There were a number of people that provided invaluable practical help during the course of the research and writing. Jintana Ratritham typed out the taped interviews, a task that would have taken me weeks with my slow Thai typing skills. Brayun Maiwong helped me in some data collection efforts, typed up the results, and also typed out some of my handwritten Thai notes to prepare them for inclusion in an appendix. Niina Peltomaaki and James Wright both saved me dozens of hours by solving critical problems with making diagrams and inserting them into the manuscript. Mark Rodli was my library and bibliographic workhorse, tracking down sources via the internet, finding them in libraries, and freeing me from photocopying hundreds of pages, so that I could read without v interruption. When a new job assignment at the end of the writing made time an issue, Laura Snider, my married daughter, lent her eyes and editing skills to work through the thesis and help clean and tighten it. Becki Johnson, my youngest daughter, kept me at the keyboard with much needed back and neck massages whenever she was home. During the course of my research they both started and completed college, and we have taken turns cheering each other on in our studies. Finally, I want to express my thanks to the community committee and people of Lang Wat Pathum Wanaram for allowing me to work with them. With good humour they put up with my questions, exercises, and constant probing. Many have become friends that I look