POLITICAL TRENDS AND VOTER DECISIONS FROM A BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The purpose of this academic article is to analyze the relationship between political trends and voters’ decision-making processes in contemporary democratic societies. It focuses on examining the role of political communication through mass media and digital media, which significantly shapes public perception, emotions, and political frameworks. The study employs documentary analysis and conceptual synthesis by integrating political science perspectives with Buddhist principles to explain that voting decisions are not based solely on rational policy considerations, but rather emerge from the interaction between political trends, public emotions, and the structure of communication in the digital era. The findings indicate that political trend’s function both as mechanisms that encourage political participation and as factors that undermine reflective and rational deliberation among voters, particularly when political communication prioritizes image-building, narratives, and emotional mobilization over substantive policy discussion. From a Buddhist perspective, the principles of yoniso-manasikāra (wise reflection), sati (mindfulness), sampajañña (clear comprehension), and sammā-diṭṭhi (right view) can be applied as ethical and cognitive frameworks to enhance voters’ awareness of political trends, enabling them to distinguish between substantive information and emotional appeals, and to recognize the broader social consequences of electoral decisions. The article argues that integrating Buddhist perspectives with the analysis of contemporary politics contributes to improving the quality of electoral decision-making and supports the sustainability of a democratic system in a media-driven and emotionally charged digital society.