Local Government Politicians’ Roles in Community Participatory Development Through Buddhist Principles in Phrae Municipality, Phrae Province

Abstract

The objectives of the study are : 1) to study the level of the role of local politicians in community development with public participation in Phrae Municipality, Phrae Province; 2) to examine the relationship between the principles of Sangkawattadhammika (the four requisites of social harmony) and the role of local politicians in community development with public participation in Phrae Municipality, Phrae Province; and 3) to propose guidelines for applying the principles of Sangkawattadhammika to promote the role of local politicians in community development with public participation in Phrae Municipality, Phrae Province. This research uses Mixed Method Research, combining quantitative research through a Survey Research using a questionnaire, a sample of 1,226 people obtained by random sampling using Taro Yamane's formula using a tolerance level of 0.05. and qualitative research using in-depth interviews to collect qualitative data from 9 key informants.

The study's findings revealed that :

1. The level of the role of local politicians in promoting community development with public participation in Phrae Municipality, Phrae Province, across all four aspects, was generally at a moderate level ( = 3.05, S.D. = 0.79).
2. The level of the role of local politicians in promoting community development with public participation in Phrae Municipality, Phrae Province, according to the four principles of Sangkhavatthu (social welfare principles), was generally at a high level ( = 4.30, S.D. = 0.34).
3. The relationship between the four principles of Sangkhavatthu and the role of local politicians in promoting community development with public participation in Phrae Municipality, Phrae Province, was found to have a moderately strong positive correlation (r = 0.726**).