FACTORS AFFECTING PEOPLE’S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL ELECTION AT TAWEWATTANA SUB-DISTRICT OF SAI NOI DISTRICT IN NONTHABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

Objectives of this research were: 1. To study the level of political participation of citizens in local elections at Thawi Watthana Sub-District, Sai Noi District, Nonthaburi Province; 2. To study the factors affecting the political participation of citizens in local elections at Thawi Watthana Sub-District, Sai Noi District, Nonthaburi Province; and 3. To propose political participation in local elections by applying Athipateyya,the principles of sovereignty. A mixed-methods research design was employed. For the quantitative research, data were collected using questionnaires with a reliability coefficient of 0.916. from 362 samples.The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis. For the qualitative research, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 key informants.

The research findings revealed that: 1. The overall level of citizens’ political participation was high ( =4.46). The highest mean score was found in exercising the right to vote ( =4.51), followed by monitoring and overseeing elections ( =4.46), while election campaigning had the lowest mean score ( =4.43); 2. All five dimensions of political socialization that entered the regression equation significantly influenced political participation at the 0.01 and 0.05 significant levels and jointly explained 70.90 percent of the variance in political participation. In addition, the Dhamadhipateyya significantly influenced political participation at the 0.01 level and explained 3.80 percent of the variance; and 3. The application of Adhipateyya, consisted of Attadhipateyya, in which leaders played a leading role while citizens participated; Lokadhipateyya, which emphasized social trends and majority opinions; and Dhamadhipateyya, which emphasized morality, ethics, fairness, participation, responsibility, and sustainability