AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF POLITICAL BEHAVIOR OF MONKS IN THAI SOCIETY ON DURING 2014 TO 2022

Abstract

The Research objectives of this study are as follows: 1) To study political behavior, 2) To study the political behavior of monks between the years 2014 and 2022 and 3) To analyze the political behavior of monks in the years 2014 and 2022 This research is a qualitative study that focuses on document analysis.           

          The research findings indicate that: 1) Political behavior is influenced by the effectiveness of government administration, which may not meet the public's needs. Political behavior takes various forms 2) The political behavior of monks in the year 2014, which was marked by a coup d'état, was relatively limited due to political instability. However, after the coup, some monks came forward to demand reforms within the Sangha and to establish Buddhism as the national religion. There were numerous meetings and gatherings among monks in the year 2022, including those organized by youth and agricultural groups, to protest government actions and demand affordable rice prices. Monks, along with ordinary individuals, students, and scholars, participated in these gatherings. 3) Monks expressed their opinions openly in the 2014 which was characterized by the coup led by General Prayuth Chan-o-cha. The analysis of the political behavior of monks in the 2022 falls under the administration of General Prayuth Chan-o-cha, and it played a significant role in stimulating the political expression of monks. This was due to the limited opportunities for the public to express their opinions and criticize the government freely, leading to the formation of pro- and anti-government factions. Monks actively participated in various activities, including protest marches, and expressing political opinions through social media platforms.