A Reform of the Thai Political Election-System in Accordance with Dhammadhipatyya Approach

Abstract

The aims of this research were: 1) to study the principles of meritocracy (dhammādhipateyya) in Buddhist texts; 2) to study the model and its problems of Thai election in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 1997 and 2007; 3) to study the reform model of Thai election in accordance with the meritocracy for the future usage. The gathered data of this documentary research were analyzed by descriptive analysis together with using Buddhist principle application.
The research results revealed that: 
1. The meritocracy is one of the doctrines on Adhipateyya (adhipateyya, dominant influence) in Buddhism importantly emphasizing on the dhammas as the dominant to persuade people to perform good-deeds. The meritocracy in politics is the good qualifications or ethics of the governors or politicians or is the criterion of politic decision making.
2. The constitutional election model, 1997 and 2007, have two similarities: the mixed election model between regional representation election and party-list proportional representation; the election problems caused by using unfair power and corruption of three stakeholders: 1) people; 2) politicians; 3) officers. 
3. The future election model according to the meritocracy relies on reforming the election criteria according to the meritocracy, composing of 3 elements: 1) decision making reform of the people based on the principles of Reasoned Attention (yonisomanasikāra), Kalama Sutta; Prejudice (agati), Hiri-Ottappa (hiri: moral shame- ottapa: moral dread); 2) decision making reform of the politicians based on the Royal Virtues (rājadhamma) and Kalama Sutta; Prejudice (agati); 3) decision making reform of the officers based on the Royal Virtues and Kalama Sutta; Prejudice. The last two are the same because of similarities in ethic standards on oneself, others, duties and society.