LUND UNIVERSITY • CENTRE FOR EAST AND SOUTH-EAST ASIAN STUDIES Emerging Donors and Development Cooperation: Thailand and Malaysia Author: Manon Carle Supervisor: Ming Chee Ang Master’s Programme in Asian Studies Spring semester 2015 Abstract Using textual analysis based on a constructivist perspective, this thesis attempted to analyze how development cooperation policy builds the emerging donor identity. It did so by looking at foreign policy in the case studies of two small Asian donors, Thailand and Malaysia. In particular, it looked at the notion of heterogeneity which exists in the emerging donor identity, and Thailand and Malaysia’s positioning within that heterogeneity. The thesis found that Thailand portrays a recipient-turned-donor identity based on the Prosper-thy-Neighbor, Forward Engagement and Constructive Engagement policies, while Malaysia currently outlines a simultaneous donor-recipient identity founded in a Prosper-thy- Neighbor and middle power strategy. The countries engage mutually through trilateral and multilateral development cooperation mechanisms as well as locally in the case of Thailand’s Southern conflict. Keywords: Emerging donor, Development cooperation, Thailand, Malaysia Acknowledgments I would like to thank the staff at the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies for giving me the opportunity to use their resources during my two weeks there through the SUPRA scholarship scheme. I was able to access most of the literature on the international development cooperation agenda from my stay in Copenhagen. I would also like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Ming Chee Ang, for her guidance in writing my thesis and taking great care of our Southeast Asia track group members. My mentor for the fieldwork course at the National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), Dr. Puay Liu Ong, along with the other staff members at the Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA), additionally kindly helped by suggesting resources. Finally, thanks go to those who helped proofread the thesis: thank you for your time, effort and patience. This is never an easy task. - 1 - Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................. - 1 - Keywords .............................................................................................................................. - 1 - Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................. - 1 - Table of Contents .................................................................................................................. - 2 - Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................ - 4 - 1. EMERGING DONORS’ DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION ...................................................... - 5 - 1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ - 5 - 1.2. Concepts ..................................................................................................................... - 5 - 1.2.1. The Emerging Donor .............................................................................................. - 6 - 1.2.2. Development Cooperation ...................................................................................... - 6 - 1.3. Methodology .............................................................................................................. - 7 - 1.3.1. Research Question .................................................................................................. - 7 - 1.3.2. Selecting the Case Studies ...................................................................................... - 8 - 1.3.3. Research Methodology ........................................................................................... - 8 - 1.4. Ethical Considerations ................................................................................................ - 9 - 1.5. Thesis Structure ........................................................................................................ - 10 - 2. THE EMERGING DONOR IN INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND ASIA ....................... - 11 - 2.1. Institutionalizing Emerging Donors’ Development Cooperation ............................ - 11 - 2.1.1. The Current DAC Framework .............................................................................. - 11 - 2.1.2. Changes in the International Architecture ........................................................... - 12 - 2.2. Literary Trends ......................................................................................................... - 12 - 2.3. Motivations for Development Cooperation .............................................................. - 13 - 2.4. Asian Donors ............................................................................................................ - 14 - 2.5. Conclusion ................................................................................................................ - 15 - 3. CONSTRUCTING THAILAND’S DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION ....................................... - 16 - 3.1. Introducing Thailand ................................................................................................ - 16 - 3.2. Development Cooperation and Foreign Policy ........................................................ - 17 - 3.2.1. From Anand Panyarachun to Prayuth Chan-o-cha ............................................. - 17 - 3.2.2. Positioning Development Cooperation ................................................................ - 19 - 3.3. The Thai International Cooperation Program .......................................................... - 21 - 3.3.1. Existing Infrastructure .......................................................................................... - 21 - 3.3.2. Scope of the Program ........................................................................................... - 22 - 3.3.3. Values Promoted ................................................................................................... - 23 - - 2 - 3.4. Thailand’s Development Cooperation with Malaysia .............................................. - 24 - 3.4.1. Thailand’s Southern Conflict ................................................................................ - 24 - 3.4.2. Thailand-Malaysia Bilateral Cooperation ........................................................... - 24 - 3.5. Thailand as Emerging Donor ................................................................................... - 25 - 4. CONSTRUCTING MALAYSIA’S COOPERATION POLICY ................................................... - 27 - 4.1. Introducing Malaysia ................................................................................................ - 27 - 4.2. Malaysia’s Foreign Policy ........................................................................................ - 27 - 4.2.1. From Tunku Abdul Rahman to Mahathir Mohamad ............................................ - 28 - 4.2.2. The Post-Mohamad Era ........................................................................................ - 29 - 4.3. Development Cooperation Values ........................................................................... - 30 - 4.4. The Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program ...................................................... - 31 - 4.4.1. The Program’s Infrastructure .............................................................................. - 31 - 4.4.2. Scope of the Provision .......................................................................................... - 32 - 4.4.3. Values Promoted ................................................................................................... - 33 - 4.5. Malaysia’s Development Cooperation with Thailand .............................................. - 34 - 4.6. Malaysia as Emerging Donor ................................................................................... - 35 - 5. COMPARING THAILAND AND MALAYSIA ...................................................................... - 37 - 5.1. Symbolic Transitions ................................................................................................ - 37 - 5.2. The Trends, Leadership and Policies ....................................................................... - 38 - 5.2.1. Trends in Development Cooperation .................................................................... - 38 - 5.2.2. Thaksin Shinawatra and Mahathir Mohamad ...................................................... - 39 - 5.2.3. Similar Policy Elements ........................................................................................ - 40 - 5.3. The Malaysia-Thailand Nexus and Positioning ....................................................... - 42 - 5.4. Conclusion ................................................................................................................ - 43 - 6. THAILAND, MALAYSIA AND BEYOND ........................................................................... - 44 - 6.1. The Emerging Donor Construct Matters .................................................................. - 44 - 6.2. Thailand-Malaysia Bilateral Relations ..................................................................... - 45 - 6.3. Looking Ahead ......................................................................................................... -