I recently came across the results of a survey conducted about attitudes towards the Thai government in northeast Thailand. The main findings of the survey are:

  • Thai government development inputs in the past few years into the Northeast have some effects on villager’s attitudes in the region. Although such inputs have not satisfied villager’s pressing needs, more villager believe the government is concerned about their well-being.
  • Living conditions have slightly improved in the Northeast and close to half of rural Northeast population are optimistic about their future.
  • Government activities have perhaps created a minor “Revolution of Rising Expectations” in the Northeast, in which case – if not ameliorated in time – the Government may have created more dissatisfaction than satisfaction in the long run. (page 11)

If you want to read the full report it is available here. It was written in 1969 for the United States Operations Mission (USOM).