Western Culture Meets Eastern Culture: The ThailandThailand Context

This chapter provides an overview of Thai culture and PM in Thailand. As discussed in the previous chapter, Buddhist philosophy (which underpins Thai values) also teaches non-assertive action, and that the propensity of the situation is influenced by karma of past, present and future (at the societal and individual levels) of those affected by the situation. Buddhism proffers that efficacy stems from allowing the situation to unfold naturally, and that one’s engagement with the situation should abide by the Noble Eightfold Path that creates good karma and leads to the cessation of suffering. It shows that while there are many values universal to Thai and Western societies, there remains differing degrees of emphasis, priorities and confluence of values adopted by the cultures, which may result in differing behavioural patterns. Therefore, it is important for expatriates exercising PM in Thailand, to have an appreciation of Thai cultural values, if they are going to work effectively with Thais. Without such, they will be less effectual in understanding how to communicate with their Thai counterparts, or to understand how Thais will interpret their behaviours, that the expatriate might think is perfectly normal, but which may appear to Thais as nonsensical or offensive.