ABSTRACT The major purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which multiethnic Korea and Thailand are cultural democracies. The primary conceptual framework guiding this study is the powerful but largely ignored concept of cultural democracy. Bereday’s classic model of comparative research is another major theoretical and methodological framework utilized. The major methodologies used are comparative qualitative case studies, meta-synthesis, and participant-observation. Comparative national case studies are rare. A number of striking similarities between the two countries are identified. The very low fertility rates of both nations drive a critical need for guest workers and international students. Both countries in general have pursued assimilationist policies not conducive to cultural democracy. The final part of the paper offers suggestions for strengthening cultural democracy in both nations. Their long-term potential can be enhanced if both these societies recognize the ‘diversity advantage’ and move actively to realize the ideal of cultural democracy.

中文翻译：

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“应对加速的多元文化挑战：韩国和泰国的比较文化民主”

摘要 本文的主要目的是考察多民族韩国和泰国的文化民主程度。指导这项研究的主要概念框架是强大但在很大程度上被忽视的文化民主概念。Bereday 比较研究的经典模型是另一个重要的理论和方法论框架。使用的主要方法是比较定性案例研究、元综合和参与者观察。比较国家的案例研究很少见。确定了两国之间许多惊人的相似之处。两国极低的生育率推动了对客工和国际学生的迫切需求。两国总体上都奉行不利于文化民主的同化政策。论文的最后部分提出了加强两国文化民主的建议。如果这两个社会都认识到“多样性优势”并积极实现文化民主的理想，它们的长期潜力就会得到增强。