Analyzing Sustainability of a Local Community by EBS Theory: The case of Kao Yi Sarn, Samut Songkram, Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to explain the factors that enable Kao Yee Sarn, a small local community in Samut Songkram Province, maintain its identity as a ‘Thai community’ despite the strong influences of global change. The study uses the concept of EBS for the investigation of the interactions among places, user groups, socio-behavioral-cultural phenomena and time. Literature review, direct observation and interviews were conducted. It was found that the balance of the dynamic interaction among environment, social economic culture and residences’ behaviors is the key factor that enables Kao Yee Sarn to maintain its identity. Keywords: community, identity, localization, globalization © 2017. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.