BUDDHADHAMMA APPLICATION FOR STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP OF THE PEOPLE OF SAMUT SONGKHRAM PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aimed: 1.To study the nature of democratic citizenship among people in Samut Songkhram Province, 2.To examine the factors influencing such citizenship, and 3.To propose Buddhadhamma  application for  strengthening democratic citizenship, conducted by the mixed-methods The qualitative research, data were collected by in-depth interviewing 18 key informants, purposively selected from scholars, government officers, politicians, and community leaders, along with focus group discussions with 9 participants to validate findings. The quantitative research and data were collected with questionnaire from 399 samples, who were eligible voters, derived from a population of 127,460 people, calculated using Yamane’s formula. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and stepwise multiple regression analysis for quantitative results.

Findings showed that: 1. Democratic citizenship in Samut Songkhram comprised six essential characteristics: self-responsibility, respect for others' rights, acceptance of diversity, adherence to equality, rule compliance, and social responsibility-all of which supported stable and sustainable democracy. 2. Factors influencing citizenship were attitude, values, beliefs, and knowledge, significantly influenced citizenship with a combined prediction rate of 60.6%. Moreover, the Seven Sappurisadhamma, predicted citizenship by 77.7 % indicating that Suppurisadhamma 7 was important factor for citizenship fostering. 3. Applying the Sappurisadhamma 7, knowing causes, knowing effects, self-awareness,knowing moderation, knowing time, knowing community and knowing individual fostered critical thinking, cooperation and sustainable democratic citizenship in the community.