LOCAL POLITICIANS KANCHANABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

The research on local politicians of Kanchanaburi Province is aimed to Thai politician phenomena through local politicians of Kanchanaburi Province. The main objectives of this study are to get to know the local politicians, their concepts, and behavior, relationships with voters, and achievements in maintaining their power as elected politicians. The theoretical framework for the study is based on patronage system, political culture, and political behavior of local politicians and other people who can affect political changes and development. The tool for data collection in this study is unstructured-interview, and both primary and secondary data were collected. The findings revealed that, firstly, the local politicians of Kanchanaburi Province benefitted from a patronage system and political culture in order to maintain their roles and relations with their political canvassers, local leaders, and voters. Election failures of local politicians were due to the loss of patron-client relations with political canvassers and local leaders. Secondly, most of the local politicians had a participative political culture type, that is, they had good understanding of the political system and political process, and undertaking of political roles. Moreover, the accepted people’s decision as people’s sovereignty. Lastly, the political behavior of the local politicians of Kanchanaburi Province had been changing and developing gradually; they understood the importance of public policies, party policies, including political power via people in decision of voting of politicians and political parties.