Board game still being used to teach Thais about democracy

[webfact]

Board game still being used to teach Thais about democracy
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation
Strasbourg, France


Students learn how to run an imagined democratic country by playing Sim Democracy game.

BANGKOK: -- Though Thailand has been run by a military regime since the May 22 takeover, the Sim Democracy board game is still being used in Thai high schools to teach students the basics of democracy.

The game was created in 2011 as part of an initiative by the Bangkok office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNS) with support from the Election Commission (EC), which also organises competitions.

Sim Democracy was presented at the recent World Forum for Democracy (WFD) in Strasbourg, France, organised by the European Council under the theme "From Participation to Influence: Can Youth Revitalise Democracy?"

Pimrapaat Dusadeeisariyakul, FNS project manager for Thailand, said EC had been reluctant to promote the board game for the first three months after the coup, but has now reintroduced it.

The EC has ordered some 1,200 new boxes of Sim Democracy, developed by a Thai under the FNS initiative, for distribution at schools. The boxes cost about Bt500 each.

"So far the military hasn't told us to stop. The EC was very worried [after the coup], but we haven't done anything to challenge the [military] government," Pimrapaat said.

Calling it a tool for learning how to resolve differences democratically, Pimrapaat said students in Bhutan, South Korea, Myanmar and Malaysia had different reactions to situations.

"When Thai children quarrel, a couple of them may say - 'I stage a coup!' - [because] we're used to it. It's just an immediate reaction," Pimrapaat told the international audience in France last week. "In South Korea though, the students would ask if they can impeach the president or change the rules."

When asked if there's a coup option in the game, Adam Rainer, former FNS director in Bangkok, responded in the affirmative. There is a situation card in the game where a military coup can be staged, but with a caveat, he said.

"A military coup in our game does not restart democracy, it only destroys," said Adam. "The Thai military regime hasn't stopped our game, but we're under the radar."

But when participants asked how effective the game was in inculcating democratic values among students, both presenters acknowledged that there was no hard and fast proof.

Silvia Golombek, senior vice president at Youth Service America, asked if students playing the game had moved to the third phase in behavioural change, which leads to the democratisation of classroom management and developing a democratic way of life.

Mishka Martin, youth adviser at Action Aid Uganda, asked how the game responded to the new political context under the military regime and how it helped defend democratic values.

"It's too early to say how it would impact society at large," said Pimrapaat. "Thai youth are not interested in democracy, but the game helps them debate and discuss it openly."

Adam, however, was more apologetic.

"If the game could have prevented the military coup from happening, I would have been so happy. This is an investment in the future."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Board-game-still-being-used-to-teach-Thais-about-d-30247907.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-17

[englishoak]

"A military coup in our game does not restart democracy, it only destroys," said Adam. "The Thai military regime hasn't stopped our game, but we're under the radar."

Not any more you arnt

[BSJ]

The absurdity of having a game in the first place is monumental, but to think it will change the way Thailand's children think is more so. It smacks of meddling in Thailand's affairs by foreigner's who think they know better than Thai's. My dad would say "Cheeky buggers, we'll have no more of that".

[MilesofSmiles]

"When Thai children quarrel, a couple of them may say - 'I stage a coup!' - [because] we're used to it. It's just an immediate reaction," Pimrapaat told the international audience in France last week. "In South Korea though, the students would ask if they can impeach the president or change the rules."

"It's too early to say how it would impact society at large," said Pimrapaat. "Thai youth are not interested in democracy, but the game helps them debate and discuss it openly."

[Somtamnication]

No other way to learn the basics of democracy. Who will teach these kids? Thais won't!

[Suriya4]

I hope prayuth ban the game. It only lead the children to think that coup is wrong and must not be allowed. However all coup leaders are forced to be love and sing praises for every day in school.

[zaphod reborn]

They should repackage Monopoly as Thai Democracy.

[mrjohndub]

I hope prayuth ban the game. It only lead the children to think that coup is wrong and must not be allowed. However all coup leaders are forced to be love and sing praises for every day in school.

My thoughts, exactly.

The more people force be love the better.

Coup is good and sing praises the children.

Every day in school lead the children to think all coup leaders prayuth ban the game must not be allowed.

Edited November 16, 2014 by mrjohndub

[thesetat2013]

Sim Democracy, developed by a Thai under the FNS initiative, for distribution at schools. The boxes cost about Bt500 each.

That should say it all!

Developed by a Thai would have to mean this game is about 1 vote=democracy and then you can do what you want after you have won the elections.

[Commerce]

They should bring in a Thai 'Cluedo' - except the only correct character would be Colonal Mustard!

They'd have to rename the rest, and we all know who Prof Plum and Miss Scarlet would be....

[gk10002000]

"When Thai children quarrel, a couple of them may say - 'I stage a coup!' - [because] we're used to it. It's just an immediate reaction.." I think this shows how people can be conditioned to think a certain way starting from a very early age. here in the USA of course we are taught about democracy and we also have pretty good freedom of the press and can read about other country's histories and issues. Unfortunately democracy can be very challenging to live in especially if one group has extremely strong interests or motives or is vastly different than many other people. Democracy works only when all the players are willing to live with some compromises. every group can't have everything just as they want it.

[gk10002000]

I hope prayuth ban the game. It only lead the children to think that coup is wrong and must not be allowed. However all coup leaders are forced to be love and sing praises for every day in school.

coups do not follow the principles of democracy and all coups have been illegal and against the existing Thai laws and constitutions at the time of the coup.

[Thai at Heart]

Must be a crap game. 17 coups and counting right?

[Emster23]

Maybe should distribute game we played to learn how things work when I was growing up in the USA. It's known as "Monopoly".

[Chris Lawrence]

Must be a crap game. 17 coups and counting right?

You made me laugh TAT.

Some good quotes in the article:

"It's too early to say how it would impact society at large," said Pimrapaat. "Thai youth are not interested in democracy, but the game helps them debate and discuss it openly."

"When Thai children quarrel, a couple of them may say - 'I stage a coup!' - [because] we're used to it. It's just an immediate reaction," Pimrapaat told the international audience in France last week. "In South Korea though, the students would ask if they can impeach the president or change the rules."

Then again no reporting can be done that is upsetting to the colonel’s that come to visit you if your causing trouble.

Then again they could adopt the Gaddafi approach to the situation?

[baboon]

"When Thai children quarrel, a couple of them may say - 'I stage a coup!' - [because] we're used to it. It's just an immediate reaction.." I think this shows how people can be conditioned to think a certain way starting from a very early age. here in the USA of course we are taught about democracy and we also have pretty good freedom of the press and can read about other country's histories and issues. Unfortunately democracy can be very challenging to live in especially if one group has extremely strong interests or motives or is vastly different than many other people. Democracy works only when all the players are willing to live with some compromises. every group can't have everything just as they want it.

Well that's Thailand knackered, then...

[Docno]

The absurdity of having a game in the first place is monumental, but to think it will change the way Thailand's children think is more so. It smacks of meddling in Thailand's affairs by foreigner's who think they know better than Thai's. My dad would say "Cheeky buggers, we'll have no more of that".

Why absurd? Kids can learn a great deal from games ... better to engage them that to have some dull and abstract lecture delivered at the front of the classroom by a bored teacher. In fact, 'games' and simulations are core to most MBA and executive education programmes. If they're not 'absurd' for professionals and managers, why so for kids.

And note... the game was developed by a Thai (re your point of 'meddling foreigners')

[maidee]

They should repackage Monopoly as Thai Democracy.

or monopoly as thai buddism

its all about greed

[rickirs]

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The absurdity of having a game in the first place is monumental, but to think it will change the way Thailand's children think is more so. It smacks of meddling in Thailand's affairs by foreigner's who think they know better than Thai's. My dad would say "Cheeky buggers, we'll have no more of that".

But ordered and distributed by the EC. How is that foreign influence?

[heyexile]

"A military coup in our game does not restart democracy, it only destroys," said Adam. "The Thai military regime hasn't stopped our game, but we're under the radar."

Not any more you arnt

That`s right. Never mind, soon to be replaced with the regime`s own compulsory nation-wide indoctrination/democracy lessons.

Kids today eh, soon to be learning at the feet of masters in Democracy

[rickirs]

For you coup lovers, the 1966's game is still available.

Maybe the Thai military could just play the game next time when it feels tempeted to bust democracy and stay out of politics:

"Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha insists on a neutral stance on the current political situation, saying the Army must always stay neutral in politics while continuing to maintain peace and social order, an Army spokesman said yesterday." The Nation 2013-12-17

[Krataiboy]

A Democracy board game for Thais? I would have thought Monopoly would be more up their street.

[tx22cb]

Democracy game in Thailand .... rather reminds me of the Radio 4 panel game "I'm Sorry, I haven't a Clue"

[lvr181]

I hope prayuth ban the game. It only lead the children to think that coup is wrong and must not be allowed. However all coup leaders are forced to be love and sing praises for every day in school.

coups do not follow the principles of democracy and all coups have been illegal and against the existing Thai laws and constitutions at the time of the coup.

Really? I guess you are advocating a return to the old ways of cronyism, corruption, rioting with weapons, paying lip service to the education of the poor and keeping the "class system" alive then?

[chotthee]

I hope prayuth ban the game. It only lead the children to think that coup is wrong and must not be allowed. However all coup leaders are forced to be love and sing praises for every day in school.

My thoughts, exactly.

The more people force be love the better.

Coup is good and sing praises the children.

Every day in school lead the children to think all coup leaders prayuth ban the game must not be allowed.

Sing praises to the junta, not to the children.

[arrowsdawdle]

The absurdity of having a game in the first place is monumental, but to think it will change the way Thailand's children think is more so. It smacks of meddling in Thailand's affairs by foreigner's who think they know better than Thai's. My dad would say "Cheeky buggers, we'll have no more of that".

Are the children taught to think or only memorize, and sing songs?

[Sydebolle]

Democracy starts at home and that's where I learnt it

[mca]

The way Thailand stumbles from one political crisis to the next they'd be better off using Buckaroo or Kerplunk

[american12bthai]

honestly, the best game to teach about democracy... IS TROPICO 5. which happens to be banned.

by having people play this game you can easily see if they are going to behave like thaksin... or a loyalist... a capitalist... etc etc.

this board game they are playing.... is rigged.

[simon43]

Rather than pour scorn on this board game, Thailand is so far removed from democracy, (and has been for yonks), that the best place to 'relearn' about democracy is in the primary school classroom, especially since it may take a generation or longer to grasp and implement the concept.

Since the junta leaders have expressed their intention to return democracy to Thailand, I would think that they would approve of this board game.