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Term III Class Visits Thailand and Cambodia to Study Globalization

Elmira, NY (05/23/2019) — Dr. Martha Easton, associate professor of sociology, and Dr. Mariam Khawar, professor of economics, recently traveled with students to Thailand and Cambodia for the Term III course titled, "Thailand and Cambodia: Globalization and Change."

Throughout their travel, students engaged with local communities to gain an appreciation of the changes brought about by globalization, which also allowed them to analyze the positive and negative aspects, especially in the context of social and cultural issues.

"As with most phenomenon, globalization brings both benefits and costs to local economies." explained Khawar. "In addition to the erosion of traditional cultural norms, one noticeable drawback created by globalization is the throngs of tourists that now populate most of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. On the other hand, tourism is one of the biggest industries, certainly in Cambodia, and provides a global stream of revenue for the country."

In Thailand, students witnessed how history and economics have impacted the country through visits to the ancient Buddhist Temples.

"Thailand was never colonized, while Cambodia has been colonized and occupied multiple times. We could see the differences that this kind of history makes," explains Easton. "For example, both countries are Buddhist, with an original history of Hinduism. But the temples in Thailand have been preserved, expanded, and kept very well. Statues of Buddha are covered in gold leaf, and ancient wall decorations have been preserved with care. Thailand has had the autonomy and wealth to be able to value and preserve its history."

While in Thailand, Easton, Khawar, and the students, also took part in a community service project to build a community water cistern in the hills above the village of Om koi, where the group was staying. Om koi is an ethnic minority Karen tribe village which is located in the mountains north of Thailand. While there, the group was housed in wood stilt houses with local families.

The class had the opportunity to experience Cambodia while on the Term III trip as well. Similar to Thailand, the class stayed with local families in the Village of Chub, Cambodia. The houses, similar to those in Thailand, were traditional wood stilt houses that are raised because of seasonal flooding. Traditionally, families in Chub have practiced a system of trade for the goods they need, crafting brooms from local and natural resources, then trading with neighboring villages that specialized in other goods such as soap, weave baskets, or wooden utensils.

"We were able to see how capitalism has arrived in Chub, where some villagers still make brooms, but not for trade, instead selling them at local markets," explained Easton. "Using the money from sale, and from working outside the village, there are now villagers with small motorbikes and kids with tee-shirts and jeans. Many of the older people still wore traditional clothes, but it's clear that globalization is changing the culture of this little rural village."

The group also visited a few international NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and non-profits that are tackling serious economic and societal issues.

"Friends International is a social enterprise focused on marginalised children and their families; we ate at their restaurant and purchased some of their products that go towards supporting their mission," said Khawar. "Artisans d' Angkor was founded by a Frenchman and is a social business creating job opportunities for young people in rural areas, while reviving traditional Khmer craftsmanship. We visited their workshop and showroom as well. Lastly Kamonohashi is a Japanese non-profit founded to address human trafficking issues in Cambodia. We visited their Community Factory which has helped break the cycle of human trafficking by creating sustainable jobs for the at-risk population by empowering the women it employs. "

Term III at Elmira College is a special 6-week term in April and May. The College offers many special learning opportunities in Term III, including study abroad, allowing students to do immersive and intensive work in a number of different fields. To learn more about Term III courses, click here.

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