STRENGTHENING THE PARTICIPATORY POLITICAL CULTURE IN DEMOCRATIC REGIME BY APPLYING BUDDHADHAMMA OF THE PEOPLE IN LAI HIN SUBDISTRICT MUNICIPALITY IN KO KHA DISTRICT IN LAMPANG PROVINCE

Abstract

This research article aimed to: 1. study the level of participatory political culture in a democratic system among the people in Lai Hin Subdistrict Municipality, 2. study the relationship between the principles of Aparihaniyadhamma and participatory political culture in a democratic system among the people in Lai Hin Subdistrict Municipality, and 3. Propose the enhancement of participatory political culture in a democratic system through the application of Buddhist principles among the people in Lai Hin Subdistrict Municipality. This research employed a mixed-method approach. The quantitative research used questionnaires with a reliability value of 0.889. The population consisted of 4,462 eligible voters in Lai Hin Subdistrict Municipality, and a sample of 368 respondents was obtained. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient with statistical significance at the 0.05 level. The qualitative research used in-depth interviews with 10 key informants (monks or persons), and data were analyzed using descriptive content analysis.

The research results found that 1. the level of participatory political culture in a democratic system among the people in Lai Hin Subdistrict Municipality was overall at a moderate level ( = 3.47); 2. the relationship between the principles of Aparihaniyadhamma and participatory political culture in a democratic system among the people in Lai Hin Subdistrict Municipality was overall at a low level (R = 0.267**); and 3. the enhancement of participatory political culture in a democratic system through the application of Buddhist principles among the people in Lai Hin Subdistrict Municipality consisted of: 3.1 regular assembly for consultation, 3.2 having common goals for the public benefit, 3.3 promoting legitimate laws or community regulations, 3.4 giving respect to and listening to experience, with emphasis on the roles of the elderly in the community, 3.5 promoting the roles of women’s groups in the community, 3.6 using the community as a learning source to build political values, and 3.7 creating mechanisms for selecting and supporting good people.