Promoting Political Leadership According to Buddhism Participatory Local Governor of Maekummee Subdistrict Mueang Phrae District Phrae Province

Abstract

This study aimed to: 1) examine the existing conditions of participatory political leadership among local administrative leaders; 2) investigate factors influencing participatory political leadership among local leaders; 3) develop participatory political leadership in accordance with Buddhist principles; and 4) propose a model for promoting participatory political leadership based on Buddhist principles among local leaders. The research employed a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires administered to 376 residents within Maekummee Subdistrict. Statistical analyses included percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis. Qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 25 key informants and focus group discussions involving 9experts. In addition, participatory action research was conducted with 45 participants, and the collected data were analyzed using descriptive analysis to synthesize findings in accordance with the research objectives.

The research findings revealed that: 1) the overall level of participatory political leadership among local administrative leaders in Maekummee Subdistrict was high, with directive leadership emerging as a prominent characteristic, reflecting leaders’ ability to guide community members to participate in community development, monitor development processes, and foster public awareness of community participation. 2) factors influencing political leadership indicated that personal factors and the principle of Viriya (perseverance in work) exerted the strongest influence on leadership development, demonstrating positive community attitudes toward participation and the persistence of local leaders in continuously supporting community development despite challenges. 3) the development of participatory political leadership based on Buddhist principles resulted in a leadership model consisting of directive, supportive, participatory, and achievement-oriented leadership, emphasizing sustained diligence, commitment to work, and continuous evaluation of activities for community benefit. And 4) the proposed model integrating Buddhist principles comprised components of knowledge enhancement, participatory promotion processes, and leadership development outcomes. Implementation of the activity program showed that community knowledge and participation increased from a moderate to a high level, reflecting the model’s effectiveness and its potential for sustainable local leadership development.