About RCSD

About Us

The Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD) was established as an academic unit under the Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University in 1998. By linking graduate training and research to development theories, policies and practice, RCSD aims to create a deeper understanding of the social, environmental and cultural challenges of modernization and development processes, in particular the impacts of the processes of regionalization and economic integration on local people and the environment.

Over the past decade, RCSD has focused its main interest on social transformation processes in the broader framework of increasing regional connectivity in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) by highlighting a number of key issues in the region, such as land governance, transboundary resource management, exploitation of nature and cross-border mobility.

Today, RCSD serves as a leading regional hub for academic exchange, quality research and education on sustainable development issues. The Center stands out from other programs due to its strong global, regional, and local connectivity through broad networks and alliances with the international development community.

The academic node encompasses four key areas of academic work:

  1. high-quality education in its international Master’s program on Social Sciences and Development Studies,
  2. Research Programs for international scholars and graduate students, including visiting scholar programs, training courses, research grants, and fellowships,
  3. Academic forums, i.e. knowledge sharing through a wide variety of dissemination events, such as international conferences, seminars, workshops, roundtable discussions and exhibitions, and 
  4. Publications to create of a body of information on development-related topics in Southeast Asia, e.g. in the form of research reports, books and monographs, conference proceedings and newsletters.

Management Board

Board of Trustees

Chayan Vaddhanaphuti

PhD (International Education Development). Stanford University, USA
PhD Honorary (Social Anthropology), Goteborg University, Sweden
Research interest: ethnicity & multiculturalism, regionalization of development in the Mekong sub-region, health social science, resource mangeement and border issues.

H.E. Poksak Nilubol

Surichai Wangaeo

Prof. He Ming

Sidthinat Prabudhanitisarn

Pong-In Rakariyatham

Duangduen Boonyawongse

Seksin Srivattananukulkit

Steering Committee

Chayan Vaddhanaphuti

PhD (International Education Development). Stanford University, USA
PhD Honorary (Social Anthropology), Goteborg University, Sweden
Research interest: ethnicity & multiculturalism, regionalization of development in the Mekong sub-region, health social science, resource mangeement and border issues.

Graduate Committee

STAFF

teaching staff

Amporn Jirattikorn

PhD (Anthropology), University of Texas at Austin, USA
Research interest: ethnic relations, transnational migration, border studies, and visual and popular culture.

Aratee Ayuthkorn

PhD (Social Science), Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Research interest: Resource management, cultural economicy, Indian studies

Chayan Vaddhanaphuti

PhD (International Education Development). Stanford University, USA
PhD Honorary (Social Anthropology), Goteborg University, Sweden
Research interest: ethnicity & multiculturalism, regionalization of development in the Mekong sub-region, health social science, resource mangeement and border issues.

Malee Sitthikriengkrai

PhD (Medical and Health Social Science), Mahidol University, Thailand
Research interest: ethnic wisdom and development, refugees, community-based participatory research, Mekong river and food soverienty

Mukdawan Sakboon

PhD (Anthropology), Macquarie University, Australia
Research interest: ethnic minority in Northern Thailand, nationalism, citizenshop, cross-border impacts of development in Southeast Asia

Prasit Leepreecha

PhD (Anthropology), University of Washington, USA
Research interest: ethnicity, indigeneity, development, religion and tourism

Rangsima Wiwatwongwana

PhD (Social Work). Sydney University
Research interest: Family welfare, social problems, and social action

Siya Uthai

PhD (Southeast Asia Studies), Humboldt University of Berlin
Research interest: globalization, political economy, social movement and food security.

Ta Wei Chu

PhD (East Asian Studies), University of Leeds, UK
Research interest: hydro-politics, politics in Cambodia and Myanmar, transdiciplinarity, human security, ASEAN

Apinya Fuengfusakul

PhD (Sociology), University of Bielefeld, Germany
Research interest: religion and gender, in particular the anthropology of religion with an emphasis on religious movements in Thailand

Kwanchewan Buadaeng

PhD (Anthropology), University of Sydney, Australia
Research interest: ethno-religious identities of the Karen and other ethnic groups in Thailand, religious movements, migrant workers, national state policy and minorities

Wattana Sugunasil

PhD (Sociology), University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
Research interest: Ethnic and Cultural Identity, Ethnic Group’s Religion Movement, Globalization, Modernity and State Policy on Minority Groups

Ekamol Saichan

Chusak Wittayapak

Aranya Siriphon

Visiting Scholars & Researchers

Researchers

Present - 2021
2020 - 2016
2015 - 2011
2010 - Past

Visiting Scholars

Present - 2021
2020 - 2016
2015 - 2011
2010 - Past