Mapping Research on Disaster Risk Reduction for Sustainable Development in Thailand: Thematic Analysis Approach

• Main Authors: Inpin, Wanwalee, Dania, Maya
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2023
• Subjects: DRR; resilience; sustainable development; Thematic Analysis; Thailand
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/apssr/vol23/iss2/6; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/apssr/article/1497/viewcontent/RA_205.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Disaster risk reduction (DRR) and sustainable development are inextricably intertwined on many levels. In the post-2015 development agenda, Southeast Asia countries identify DRR as the primary key to building regional community resilience to achieve sustainable development goals. However, a knowledge gap was found in the current trend of DRR research in Thailand that impedes inclusive, sustainable development in the region. This paper reviews the literature on DRR in Thailand from the different periods during 2016–2020 with different geographic foci in 46 peer-reviewed journal articles to identify academic disciplinary trends in DRR fields using a thematic analysis (TA) qualitative method. In searching for themes, directed by Eakins and Luer’s (2006) risk approach, relevant codes were sorted, collected, and combined to show the relationship between codes and themes. Findings indicate that hazard assessment for building infrastructure research occupied the most conducted research in Thailand, whereas disaster education was the least pervasive theme explored in academic research post-2015. The knowledge distribution area of DRR research in Thailand has explicitly endorsed the Central part (the urban) of Thailand as the primary research location, whereas the Eastern region (the rural) of Thailand was the least prevalent for DRR study location. The paper concludes that academic research on DRR toward sustainable development in Thailand has been mainstreaming physical concerns, not yet socioeconomic issues. This paper further argues that the future directions of DRR study in Thailand should ensure inclusiveness and include collaboration among local governments and communities to improve the culture of resilience for sustainable development.