PERCEPTIONS OF POVERTY AND INEQUALITY AMONG THE PRIVILEGED THAI YOUTH: AN EVALUATION OF SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN THAILAND

Abstract

De Swaan’s historical analysis of the welfare state points towards the role of social consciousness, a set of perceptions held by the elite, in triggering collective action for poverty reduction in Europe and the United States. The amalgam of perceptions amounting to a social consciousness included the beliefs in social interdependency, social responsibility and in the feasibility of poverty reduction efforts. This study aimed to gain insights on the perceptions of poverty, inequality, and pro-poor policies among the privileged youth in Thailand by focusing on students enrolled at Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University International College and Thammasat University in courses related to the social sciences. Using De Swaan’s analytical framework of social consciousness, this research shows that the physical and social segregation between social classes in Thailand lessens the sense of social interdependency between the privileged youth and the poor. Moreover, the negative perceptions of the poor, the lack of faith towards the state and the lack of trust in fellow citizens to share the cost of poverty alleviation impact social responsibility and the will for collective action towards poverty reduction among the privileged youth. Nevertheless, the privileged youth viewed poverty reduction as feasible while investing in education was by far the most popular initiative to reduce poverty in Thailand. Overall, it can be argued that privileged youth showed signs of an incomplete social consciousness.