AN ENHANCEMENT OF PEACE COMMUNITY NETWORK IN THAI SOCIETY

Abstract

The objectives of this research include: 1) to study the Buddhist doctrine in building peace among multicultural society in southern Isan; 2) to study factors that affect peace building of the community among multicultural society in southern Isan; 3) to study community peace building in southern Isan among multicultural society in southern Isan; 4) to study the enhancement of peace community network in southern Isan. It was an action research. The population of this research includes: 1) Ban Yang community, Ban Yang Sub-district, Lam Plai Mat District, Buriram Province; 2) Ban Or-Udomsin community, Plai Sub-district, Lamthamenchai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province; 3) Ban Tenmee community, Tenmee Sub-district, Mueang District, Surin Province; and 4) Ban Tanong community, Prasat-tanong Sub-district, Prasat District, Surin Province. Key informants were 50 monks and laymen. The instruments used for gathering information was the interview format created by the researcher. Research findings were as follows. 1) Regarding the concept and the Buddhist doctrine for building peace in multicultural society, the target population have different ways of life. The people have inherited their practices from generation to generation. This has supported Buddhism in prosperity i.e. because there have been various art, cultural and traditional activities in relation to Buddhism. 2) Regarding the factors affecting peace building in multicultural society, it was found that conflict management of the community in the past was fairly reconciled between the two parties by community leaders and the conflict cases needed not to be raised to officials at higher level. It depended on cooperation and unity among the people in the community. 3) Regarding participatory community peace building in southern Isan among multicultural society, it was found that building peace community in southern Isan of the 4 communities must rely on the powers of villagers, temples and schools as the principal organizations in participatory community peace building with government agencies. 4) Regarding the enhancement of peace community network in southern Isan, it was found that in networking peace society in southern Isan, all the four communities have used the tripartite powers of villagers, temples and schools in building the network. Local government organizations have their roles in coordinating external networks and building cooperation with government and nongovernment sectors. Temples have their roles as a medium in linking community networks through advice and socialization among the communities and schools.