Conventional production methods of the Karen society are based on subsistence. A holistic approach to nature, animism and Buddhism is incorporated into their lifestyle and social relationships, bringing about respect to and the sustainability of human society and nature under the contexts of sufficient socio-economic and political relationships. The practices bring about equality in social status and gender relationships. The changes in the community are caused by two external factors. One is state development mechanisms which apply laws to regulate and manage natural resources, change the power structure of the community by assimilated development policies, and incorporate the community into the capitalist economic system through development tools. The other factor is the connection of the community with urban society and the capitalist marketing system caused by road construction, mass media, marriage to outsiders, land purchase by investors, external migration, and an alien labor force.