Buddhadhamma integration to promote leadership characteristics of local politicians in Thakhunram Subdistrict, Mueang Kamphaeng Pet District, Kamphaeng Pet Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research article were 1) to study the level of integration of Buddhadhamma to promote leadership qualities of local politicians; 2) to study the relationship between Papanikadhamma and the integration of Buddhadhamma to promote leadership qualities; and 3) to propose guidelines for integrating Buddhadhamma to promote leadership qualities of local politicians in Tha Khun Ram Subdistrict, Mueang Kamphaeng Phet District, Kamphaeng Phet Province according to Papanikadhamma. This was the mixed-methods research. A questionnaire with a reliability of 0.954 was distributed to a sample of 384 people randomly selected using Taro Yamane's formula. The statistics used in research were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Qualitative research consisted of 17 key informants. Data collection tools included interviews and content analysis techniques. The research results found that 1) the level of integrating Buddhadhamma to promote leadership qualities of local politicians according to Papanikadhamma  was at a very high level ( = 4.71, S.D. = 0.34) and the level of integration of Buddhadhamma to promote leadership qualities of local politicians was at a very high level ( = 4.65, S.D. = 0.34); 2) the relationship between Papanikadhamma and the integration of Buddhadhamma  to promote leadership qualities of local politicians in Tha Khun Ram Subdistrict, Mueang Kamphaeng Phet District, Kamphaeng Phet Province, overall showed a positive relationship at a fairly high level (r = 0.691**); 3) guidelines for integrating Buddhadhamma to promote leadership qualities of local politicians in Tha Khun Ram Subdistrict, Mueang Kamphaeng Phet District, Kamphaeng Phet Province found that (1) having a vision for community development, (2) effective management capabilities, (3) having good human relations and reaching out to the public, (4) a trustworthy personality, (5) policy-making capabilities, (6) morality and ethics in administration, and (7) adhering to the principles of good governance to create transparency and good administration.