| Among ethnic Chinese in Southeast Asia,Chinese-Thai are the most highly integrated group which greatly benefit from their adaptability to the Patron-Client system.This article tries to explore the intrinsic logic between the evolution of Patron-Client relationship and the development of Chinese-Thai.Based on different actual power holders,it is divided into four periods:Autocratic royalty,Military power,Democratic transformation,and Thaksin's reign.It analyzes that the ethnic Chinese groups represented by Chao pho and Chao sua construct the Patron-Client relationships with the authorities and grass-roots people about the process,content essence,evolution trend,development status and their dual effects.The author argues that Chinese-Thai has consciously integrated their interests closely with Patron-Client relations for a long time.With strong economic strength,well-connected network,and the increasing influence,they actively adjusted themselves to be an important node in the Patronage network from local and national systems.Successively,they adjust themselves from the Local Headmen-Pariah Entrepreneurs-Political Brokers-Political Entrepreneurs which realized the transition from subordinate to equalization and integration in the Patron-Client relationship Chinese partaken.So in this way Chinese-Thai elites actively participate in the campaign cooperation with those who are in power,play an important role in local and national development and the operation of the political system.Therefore,this article examines Chinese-Thai in the framework of Patron-Client system,and analyzes their dynamic interactions,which contributes to understand the economic development,political participation and cultural adaptation of the Chinese-Thai.In addition,it can give a comparatively rational analysis to reveal the role of Chinese-Thai in the Democratic Politics and Social Relations. |
PDF Full Text Request