TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE: A PARTICIPATORY IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR RURAL THAILAND

Khemika Thongrueang

doi:10.14456/apsr.2026.4

Authors

Khemika THONGRUEANG Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14456/apsr.2026.4

Keywords:

Transformational Leadership, Participatory Water Governance, Local Public Administration, Community-Based Management, Mixed-Methods Research

Abstract

This study investigates the role of transformational leadership in fostering participatory irrigation management among local village headmen in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand. Addressing the critical global need for sustainable local water governance, the research employs a rigorous mixed-methods design. The study systematically collected quantitative data from 178 local leaders and analyzed them using multiple linear regression, while gathering nuanced qualitative insights through in-depth interviews with 20 key informants. The empirical results demonstrate a highly significant level of overall participation in irrigation management. Crucially, the regression analysis unequivocally reveals that inspirational motivation and intellectual stimulation are the primary transformational leadership dimensions driving this active engagement. Complementary qualitative findings further highlight that effective local leaders successfully utilize participatory decision-making platforms, establish enforceable community-based regulations, and integrate appropriate communication technologies. By synthesizing these diverse results, the study proposes a comprehensive participatory development model. Ultimately, this framework shows that sustainable rural water governance requires leaders who transcend traditional administrative roles to empower marginalized groups, cultivate collaborative problem-solving, and build long-term institutional resilience at the grassroots level.

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