Center for Social Development Studies at Chulalongkorn University

What Center for Social Development Studies at Chulalongkorn University does

The Center for Social Development Studies (CSDS) is a non-profit academic research center housed within Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science in Bangkok, Thailand, with operations covering Southeast Asia (Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam) and selective East Asian links (Japan, China). Founded in 1985, the center employs approximately 5 core staff and operates as a university-based research unit rather than a commercial entity. Its research methodology applies political ecology as an analytical framework and a transdisciplinary approach that integrates multiple disciplines and local/indigenous knowledge systems to study development policy and practice.

CSDS's core products are research and policy analysis, the Just Futures Mekong Fellowship Program (JFMFP), the MAIDS Master of Arts in International Development Studies program, public forums and conferences (including the Political Ecology in Asia Dialogue Series), and an extensive publications library spanning journal articles, book chapters, books, policy briefs, reports, newsletters, and multimedia content. Active research projects include Public Authority Federalism and Forests in Post-Coup Myanmar, Disasters and Development in East Asian Regionalism, the Political Ecology of Migration from Myanmar to Bangkok, and Anticipatory Evidence and Large Dam Impact Assessment in the Mekong Basin, plus the multi-country Vulnerable Deltas in Southeast Asia project.

The center's business model is non-commercial: it does not sell products or services for revenue, operates without a pricing model, and is funded through Chulalongkorn University allocation, research grants, and donor funding (notably the Henry Luce Foundation). Distribution relies on academic publishing, open access, conferences/workshops, newsletters, social media (Facebook, YouTube), and direct stakeholder engagement with universities, NGOs, government agencies, and international organizations across the Mekong region and beyond.

Name

Center for Social Development Studies at Chulalongkorn University

Legal name

Center for Social Development Studies

Website

https://csds-chula.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CSDS is a non-profit academic research center at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science in Bangkok, producing interdisciplinary political ecology research on Southeast Asian development policy. It serves academics, policymakers, civil society, and Mekong-region NGOs through publications, the MAIDS program, and the Just Futures Mekong Fellowship Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Development Studies Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAALAE

Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

Keywords

• Development studies research
• Political ecology analysis
• Academic policy research
• Mekong region studies
• Transdisciplinary social research

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangkok

HQ country

Thailand

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CSDS is an academic research center that conducts interdisciplinary critical research on development policy and practice in Southeast Asia. Its offerings include collaborative research projects, graduate education through the Master of Arts in International Development Studies (MAIDS) program, the Just Futures Mekong Fellowship Program, public seminars and conferences, and a portfolio of academic publications (journal articles, books, policy briefs, reports, and multimedia) made publicly available.

Product overview

The Center for Social Development Studies (CSDS) is an academic research center that operates as a single unified research and education initiative, not a commercial product company. Its offerings consist of research programs, fellowship programs, academic education, public forums, and knowledge publications. The core activities include interdisciplinary research on development policy in Southeast Asia, the Just Futures Mekong Fellowship Program implemented with Thai civil society partners, graduate education through the MAIDS program, and public events including seminars and conferences. All publications and research outputs are freely shared publicly rather than sold as commercial products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Just Futures Mekong Fellowship Program (JFMFP)
• Master of Arts in International Development Studies (MAIDS)
• Public Forums and Events
• Vulnerable Deltas in Southeast Asia Research Project

Quantifiable outcome

• Organizes regular seminars, conferences, and workshops for public debate on development issues
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Institute of Development Studies (IDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on the Anticipatory Evidence and Large Dam Impact Assessment in the Mekong Basin research project, examining how anticipatory evidence generated in impact assessments informs decision-making on hydropower dams.
• Sophia University, TokyocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration with Dr. Takeshi Ito from Faculty of Liberal Arts on East Asian regionalism research, examining how economic and environmental connectivities relate to disasters and development.
• Ubon Ratchathani UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Mekong Basin research with Professor Kanokwan Manorom from Faculty of Liberal Arts, focusing on water governance and social research.
• National University of LaoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Faculty of Law and Political Science and Office of Post Graduate Studies on transboundary water governance and hydropower research.
• East-West CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Political Ecology of Migration from Myanmar to Bangkok research project as part of the Vulnerable Deltas in Southeast Asia initiative, with Dr. Kevin Woods as project partner.
• UNESCO Chair in Resource Governance and Futures LiteracycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO Chair hosted at CSDS focusing on resource governance and futures literacy, contributing to critical research on resource politics.
• Master of Arts in International Development Studies (MAIDS) ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduate program collaboration through which CSDS supports young and mid-career researchers and public intellectuals via the MAIDS and GRID programs.
• Research Institute for Humanity and NatureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in Disasters and Development in East Asian Regionalism research examining interconnections between disasters, regionalism, and environmental change.
• Local AlikecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost organization for Just Futures Mekong Fellowship Program, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering local communities through sustainable community-based tourism.
• Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThai NGO established in 1996 dedicated to empowering vulnerable communities reliant on natural resources; host organization for fellowship program focusing on coastal communities and fishing rights.
• Sustainable Agriculture Foundation ThailandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneering organization promoting sustainable agriculture established in 1998; host organization for fellowship focusing on Karen coffee growers and climate challenges.
• Climate Finance Network ThailandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank committed to advancing sustainable financial practices and low-carbon economy transition; established in 2024; host for EV investment and green transformation research.
• Towards Organic Asia (TOA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization fostering collaboration among organic agriculture cooperatives across the Mekong region; host for seed sovereignty and young farmers engagement research.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• East-West Center: US-based Asia-Pacific research and education institution partnering with CSDS on the Political Ecology of Migration from Myanmar to Bangkok project. Directly comparable as a research center focused on policy-relevant work across Southeast Asia.
• Institute of Development Studies (IDS): University of Sussex-based global development research institute already collaborating with CSDS on the Anticipatory Evidence and Large Dam Impact Assessment in the Mekong Basin project. Highly comparable as a similarly-missioned, interdisciplinary development research center with policy engagement.
• ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute: Singapore-based research institute devoted to Southeast Asian political, economic, and social studies. Directly comparable in geographic focus, research depth, and policy-engagement orientation across the same Southeast Asian region CSDS serves.
• International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED): UK-based policy research organization working on environment and sustainable development with strong presence in the Global South. Closely comparable to CSDS in linking critical research, local partnerships, and policy influence on resource governance and environmental justice.
• Centre for Development Studies, University of Cambridge: University of Cambridge research center carrying out interdisciplinary development research with global reach. Comparable to CSDS in academic rigor, interdisciplinary methodology, and engagement with development policy debates.
• Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD), Chiang Mai University: Chiang Mai University-based regional research center focused on social science research and sustainable development across mainland Southeast Asia. Closely comparable to CSDS as a Thai university research center working on similar themes in the Mekong region.

Broad incumbents

• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): Sweden-based policy research organization with Asia offices covering environment, climate, and development. Comparable to CSDS in its transboundary water governance and Mekong-related work, though operating at significantly larger scale and geographic breadth.

Emerging players

• Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA): Sri Lanka-based independent research center producing socio-economic research to inform public policy. Comparable to CSDS as an Asia-focused, policy-oriented research center engaging with development stakeholders, though smaller in scale.
• Stockholm Resilience Centre: Stockholm University-based research center on social-ecological systems and resilience. Comparable to CSDS in its transdisciplinary approach to understanding socio-ecological dynamics, though with a stronger biophysical-science orientation.

Others

• Focus on the Global South: Bangkok-based think tank conducting critical research and advocacy on political economy, development, and social movements in Asia. Adjacent to CSDS in thematic focus (critical development, resource politics, regionalization) and geography, though more advocacy-oriented.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-social-development-studies-at-chulalongkorn-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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