Urban Transformation: The Turn of the Millennium in Bangkok

Abstract

Bangkok has become a global economy and has aggressively been promoted as a growth machine, which has influenced public space and thus the way people live together through new modes of transportation, beautification of the streets, and the eviction of marginalized groups. I argue that the collision between global space and local place, whether on a spatial or a vertical level, holds surprising, unpredictable results as people show unexpected reactions to changes in their realms of living. I claim that globalization can lead to strengthened local places and open up new ways for people to claim their right to remain a major part of urban space.