Urban Ties of Rural Thais 1

Abstract

Sponsorship plays an important role in influencing migration decisions and shaping migration streams. Therefore, it is important to document the nature and extent of interpersonal linkages between villagers and urban dwellers. This article presents such an analysis for Thailand, in a context dominated by circular mobility. Using data from Northeast Thailand, it examines the prevalence of urban social contacts, selectivities involved in such linkages, the characteristics of the urban contacts themselves, the salience of the interpersonal relationships, and the potential for the urban contact to act as a sponsor for the villagers. Furthermore, using a prospective research design, the impact of social contacts on subsequent rural-urban mobility of villagers is examined. Given the dominance of Bangkok in the Thai urban hierarchy and given the interest of decentralized urbanization expressed by Thai policymakers, it is important to distinguish between Bangkok and regional centers. Therefore, the article systematically distinguishes between Bangkok and Northeast Thai centers. By so doing, the study clarifies some of the obstacles hindering the decentralized urbanization program in Thailand.