Abstract:
The objectives of this research were 1) to study the impact of the opening of the ASEAN Economy Communities (AEC) on the community, 2) to create participation in managing the impact of the opening of the AEC on the community, and 3) to propose guidelines for managing the impact of the opening of the AEC on communities in Muang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province. It was performed by using participatory action research. The data collection was conducted from in-depth interview from 15 key informants, including youth representatives. The data were analyzed and examined by using the triangular technique.
The results showed that
1) the opening of the AEC causing the market to consume goods and services to expand its production base widely. It was competition with entrepreneurs and investors with higher investment potential which affected the public and private sectors with free movement of labor from ASEAN countries which caused the problems in the followings: 1) the problem of finding a job difficultly for Thai workers, 2) the problem of aliens and government services, and 3) the problem of epidemic of drug crime.
2. The problem management of the impact of the opening of the AEC on communities in Muang Nong Khai District was as follows: 1) government agencies have to accelerate their participation with various organizations in the ASEAN Community, 2) propagation of knowledge. for the local people to know the member countries of the ASEAN Community not create suspicion of the work of government agencies, 3) strength of civil society to improve the quality of life, and 4) support and preparation of knowledge and understanding about electoral democracy, referendum, expression of various opinions, and changes to civil society within the country, especially in terms of freedom of expression for public participation with government agencies.
3. Guidelines for managing the impact of the opening of the AEC on the community focused on managing the impact of the opening of the AEC on the community and seriously implemented to strategies to solve problems, namely 1) setting up checkpoints to search for drugs, 2) increasing approaches for the prevention and treatment of drug users, 3) rehabilitating patients or drug addicts and following up with reintegration into society, 4) creating cooperation between Thailand and neighboring countries to forward the drug reduction policy, 5) developing skill training for Thai workers, and 6) developing a database on the health of migrant workers in the community.