BUDDHADHAMMA APPLICATION FOR ENHANCING POLITICAL CULTURE WITH PEOPLE PARTICIPATORY PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL ELECTIONS OF UTHAI THANI PROVINCE

Abstract

Objectives of this research article were: 1. To study the people’s participatory political culture in Uthai Thani Province. 2. To study the factors affecting the people’s participatory political culture in Uthai Thani. 3. To study the Bhddhadhamma for enhancing the people’s participatory political culture in Uthai Thani Province by applying the principles of Aparihaniyadhamma 7, conducted by the mixed research methods. The qualitative research, data were collected by in-depth interviewing key informants. Data were analyzed using descriptive content interpretation and focus group discussions. The quantitative research used questionnaires to collect data from 400 samples Data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, and multiple regression analysis.

The research results were found that: 1. The people’s participatory political culture in Uthai Thani Province had 8 aspects, namely, 1. Having faith in the principles of democratic government. 2. Confidence and trust in the importance and dignity of people who were leaders. 3. Respect for the rules of democratic government. 4. Participation in political activities. 5. Sense of civic duty. 6. Trust in politicians and cooperation to participate in politics.
7. Being able to criticize politics constructively. 8. Not having a dictatorial spirit. 2. Factors that enhanced the people’s participatory political culture in Uthai Thani Province were beliefs and behavioral aspects were at statistically significant level at 0.01 indicating that the factors of people’s participation could jointly predict by 37.3 percent. 3. Buddhadhamma principles application for enhancing the people’s participatory political culture in Uthai Thani Province by applying the principles of Aparihaniyadhamma 7, namely, respect for the chairman and the opinions of members in the meeting. Readiness for a meeting in terms of meeting regularly indicating that the 7 principles of Aparihaniyadhamma could together predict by 78.8 percent.