ABSTRACT
This chapter starts with a brief overview of Thailand before focusing on the socio-political and cultural factors that influenced the development of social welfare and social work in Thailand. Special attention is given to the role of Buddhism as shaping the societal context of social welfare as well as the cultural practice of patron-client relationships. The chapter also examines the conflict between military and civilian rule and how that shaped the development of social welfare. The chapter next turns to outlining the development of social work in Thailand. Social work is influenced by secular and Buddhist principles and practice. The relative paucity of indigenous ways of knowing has meant that the social work curriculum in Thailand has relied heavily on Western concepts, though Thai educators have adapted them to suit the Thai context. Social work in Thailand has evolved into an established profession with professional associations and international memberships in regional and international social work organizations. To anchor an understanding of social work practice, two case studies are employed. The first examines the use of Buddhist temples to provide services identified with social work. The second case study traces juvenile justice policy and how social workers use restorative justice to facilitate rehabilitation. The chapter concludes with a call for greater social work political advocacy and closes with an exercise of ‘Taking It Further.’
