COASTAL GUARDIANS AND PRECARIOUS LIVELIHOODS: THE POLITICAL ECOLOGY OF MANGROVE NARRATIVES A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I AT MĀNOA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN GEOGRAPHY DECEMBER 2019 By Angkana Rawichutiwan Dissertation Committee: Krisnawati Suryanata, Chairperson Hong Jiang Reece Jones Jefferson Fox Johnathan Padwe © Copyright 2019, Angkana Rawichutiwan ii Abstract This dissertation combines the historical and ethnographical analysis to examine the mangrove narratives, discursive practices, and the impacts on the livelihoods of local communities in Thailand. Mangrove narratives are constructed generalized statements about processes and causes of, and solutions to mangrove and related environmental degradations that are accepted as the “truths” and can assumedly be applied universally. It uses a critical political ecology approach which focuses on the de/construction of orthodoxy science and environmental discourse, using mangrove narrative as a case study. The research is based on the 17 months of field research conducted in Talumphuk, the rural fishing villages in southern Thailand. It investigates the linkage between broader Thailand political economic development policies, Western ideologies and influences on Thai state, the mangrove narratives and discursive practices, and on-the-ground conditions and livelihoods of small-scale fishers. It traces the historical root of scientific forestry and institutions since the colonial period, which then passed on to the present-day mangrove management technique. It finds that mangrove narratives, created as a response to mangrove deforestation from the shrimp farming development, reinforced by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami as “coastal guardian,” have turned into discursive practices of mangrove planting and territorialization, exacerbating the already precarious livelihoods of Talumphuk fishers particularly the poor and marginalized group. iii Dedications To my mom, dad, and sisters who have always been incredibly supportive throughout this long journey of mine. To my husband, “Pure,” who has always been there for me. To P’Korn and P’Wow, my host family in Talumphuk, the kindest people I have ever met. iv Acknowledgements I would like to express the deepest appreciation and gratitude to my advisor, Prof. Krisna Suryanata, who has guided me throughout my Ph.D. years. I thank my other committee members Reece Jones, Jeff Fox, Hong Jiang, and Jonathan Padwe for their supports and guidance. I thank the East-West Center (EWC) for the 2-year Graduate Degree Fellowship and another 4 -year student affiliation. The experiences I have from living in the EWC community is extremely incredible and I am forever thankful for the opportunity. I also thank the Department of Geography at the University of Hawai‘i for giving me funding and support to complete my degree. Thanks to my friends in Hawai‘i and Thailand who has made my Ph.D. journey such an incredible journey of a lifetime. All the experiences with all of you are such valuable moments. I also want to thank Brian Szuster and his wife, P’Ning for their kind support. I am forever grateful for my host family in Talumphuk, P’Korn and P’Wow, who have taken care of me like I was their own family during one and a half year of my field research. What is more valuable than the data for my dissertation that I get from being in the field with them is a life lesson about unconditional kindness. My family has been most supportive throughout this process, especially my mom, Tatiya, my sisters, P’Tu and P’Tik, and my dad. My mom has done everything she could to help me through this long journey. She is the best mom I could have asked for. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... v List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. viii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................................... 4 “Environmental narratives” and the construction of environmental knowledge. ....................... 5 Statecraft and territorialization. .................................................................................................. 8 Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM). .................................................. 10 Small-scale fisheries (SSF), poverty, and vulnerability. ........................................................... 12 Methodology, Research Site and Fieldwork Experiences (including Ethics and Validity) .......... 14 Dissertation Outline ...................................................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER 2. THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THAILAND DEVELOPMENT ................. 22 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 22 Early Western Influence ............................................................................................................... 22 European era. ............................................................................................................................ 22 American era. ............................................................................................................................ 24 Post WWII Development .............................................................................................................. 25 Growth oriented development and modernization. ................................................................... 25 The Fifth Asian Tiger? .............................................................................................................. 31 Neoliberal Era ............................................................................................................................... 33 The Asian financial crisis.......................................................................................................... 33 Thaksinomics. ........................................................................................................................... 34 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 36 CHAPTER 3. SHRIMP FARMING AND MANGROVE FORESTRY IN THAILAND .......... 38 Intensive Shrimp Farming ............................................................................................................. 38 “Blue revolution” ...................................................................................................................... 38 Environmental and social impacts. ........................................................................................... 41 Shrimp farming in Thailand. ..................................................................................................... 46 Mangrove Forestry ........................................................................................................................ 55 Mangrove Ecology .................................................................................................................... 55 Forestry institutions. ................................................................................................................. 57 vi Environmental movement in Thailand...................................................................................... 63 Mangrove narratives. ................................................................................................................ 64 Mangrove management. ............................................................................................................ 66 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 70 CHAPTER 4. PAK PHANANG AND TALUMPHUK .............................................................. 72 Pak Phanang .................................................................................................................................. 72 Livelihoods in Pak Phanang...................................................................................................... 75 Rice farming.......................................................................................................................... 75 Fishery................................................................................................................................... 78 Shrimp Farming. ................................................................................................................... 80 Laem Talumphuk .......................................................................................................................... 83 Recovery from the Storm. ......................................................................................................... 86 Livelihoods in Talumphuk. ......................................................................................................