Soft Power: Driving Local Public Policy Forward and Waste Management in Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

This research aimed to (1) analyze local public policies on waste management, (2) develop soft power for driving local public policy implementation and waste management, and (3) evaluate the outcomes of applying soft power to local public policy implementation and waste management in Chaiyaphum Province. A mixed-methods research design was employed. The quantitative sample consisted of 390 residents selected through questionnaire surveys. Qualitative data were obtained from 18 key informants - local leaders, committee members, and experts through in-depth interviews, as well as from 14 participants in focus group discussions conducted in Ban Thaen Subdistrict, Ban Thaen District, Chaiyaphum Province. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including percentages, means, and standard deviations, while qualitative data were analyzed through descriptive and interpretive content analysis.

The findings revealed that: (1) local public policies on waste management were characterized by accessible communication, the internalization of the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) as a community culture through activities and incentives, and the integration of policy design, communication, participation, and support systems aligned with local culture; (2) the development of soft power for driving public policy and waste management emerged from four dimensions of community strength: (a) community goal setting, (b) community-based incentives, (c) community participation, and (d) the establishment of community mechanisms; and (3) the evaluation of soft power application in waste management indicated the appropriateness of local policies, accessible communication and structural arrangements, and strong community-driven momentum through incentives, goal setting, participation, and community mechanisms.